Kerala dam reaches danger mark, shutters opened

October 19, 2021 13:37

Loud sirens announced the opening of the third and second shutter of Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir, on Tuesday in accordance with the state government's plan to release small amounts of water from it as its levels reached the danger mark.

Three sirens were sounded prior to the opening of the dam's 3rd shutter by around 35 centimeters, Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) said in its Facebook page.

Nearly an hour after the 3rd shutter of the dam was opened, three sirens were sounded before the second shutter was raised by 35 centimeters at 12 PM, KSEB said.

Three shutters of the dam are going to be raised by 35 centimeters each during the day, it said.

Earlier in the day, shutters of Idamalayar and Pampa reservoirs were opened in the wake of increase in the water level and more rains predicted in the coming days in Kerala.

The developments come a day after the state government opened the shutters of Kakki and Sholayar dams to release surplus water.

The Ernakulam district administration confirmed the opening of shutters 2 and 3 of Idamalayar dam by 50 centimetres each.

Opening of shutters 3 and 4 of the Pampa dam by 45 centimetres each was confirmed by the Pathanamthitta district administration. The state government today reiterated its warning to people living in low lying areas and along the banks of the rivers, whose dams have been opened, to exercise caution and move to relief camps set up across the state in the wake of the heavy rains which have claimed 38 lives so far.

State Revenue Minister K Rajan, while speaking to media this morning, said if people refuse to move out of risk prone areas, the government would be forced to "arrest" and shift them to the camps. "Our aim is to save lives," he said.

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