With the district administration issuing a flood alert in the wake of the decision of the Public Works Department to release water from the Mettur dam into the Cauvery, the Tiruchi Rural police have deployed additional manpower at Mukkombu (upper anicut) a favourite picnic spot near here.
Men from the Armed Reserve have been also been drawn and posted at Mukkombu that attracts tourists from various parts of the State.
The police have decided to retain a part of the personnel, originally deployed in view of the Adi Perukku festival, at the tourist spot in the wake of the increased release of water from the Mettur dam.
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A temporary outpost has been put up at Mukkombu and security personnel have been posted at different places in the sprawling tourist spot.
Personnel have also been deployed on the Vathalai side to caution public on venturing into the water, say police sources.
The Inspector of Jeeyapuram police station has been instructed to carry out rounds at Mukkombu at frequent intervals as a precautionary measure.
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The sources said sand bags have been kept ready at the upper anicut anticipating heavy flow of water in the Cauvery in the coming days.
With water flow expected to increase and a flood alert already issued, police strength has been maintained after the ‘Adi Perukku’ festival primarily to avert drowning at Mukkombu, said a senior police officer.
A few months ago, there were couple of instances in which students got trapped in quicksand and drowned in a pool of water at Mukkombu. One such instance took place in early May and the other in March.
Four persons including a mother and daughter drowned in a pool of water in the Cauvery at Perugamani, a few kilometres from Mukkombu in April-end.