Water level in the Idukki dam continued to rise even after the five shutters of the Cheruthoni dam were opened and the release of water raised to 600 cumecs by Friday evening.
The water level was 2,401.76 ft at 5 p.m. The maximum reservoir level is 2,403 ft. The trial run started at noon on Thursday for four hours by raising one shutter by 50 cm, releasing water at 100 cumecs. As the inflow into the dam increased, it was decided to continue the trial run till Friday morning.
On Friday morning, two more shutters were opened releasing water at 300 cumecs. By 3.30 p.m., the remaining two shutters were slowly raised releasing water at 600 cumecs. By 5.30 p.m., the release of water was increased to 750 cumecs. The hourly gross inflow was 769 cumecs at 7 p.m.
Vigil advised
The District Collector said more water would be released from the dam and people downstream should exercise caution. He said there was no let-up in rain in the catchment area. Though, there was a minor fall in the rate of increase, the inflow into the dam was higher than the volume of water released to the Moolamattom power house and into the Periyar.
The water level rose from 2,401.34 ft at 10 a.m. to 2,401.72 ft at 4 p.m. There was heavy inflow into the Periyar river as Peerumade taluk, upstream of the river, received the highest rainfall of 157 mm in the district till Friday morning. The heavy rainfall was continuing in the evening.
More teams deployed
Meanwhile, a 51-member Fire and Rescue Services team was deployed at Cheruthoni in addition to a scuba team.
Three vehicles with all equipment in addition to 10 vehicles, including a medical team, were stationed at Cheruthoni town.
A 70-member Army team has reached Adimali. The team is helping the people in areas affected by landslips and rain. A team of the Disaster Management Force also reached the downstream areas of the Idukki dam.
A team of police personnel under a police superintendent was deployed from Cheruthoni to Panamkutty, where the water from the dam is flowing down.
