29th. June. 2025.
In Kerala, as rain continues, the spillways of the Mullaperiyar dam in Idukki district has been raised. This is to maintain the water level in the dam at the rule curve level of 136 feet.
The water level had crossed 136 feet by 10 pm last night. Thirteen spillway shutters of the dam has been opened around 12 noon. 250 cubic feet per second of water is being discharged to the Periyar River.
The district administration has issued alert in Idukki as the Periyar is overflowing its banks. Steps have been completed to relocate 3220 people from 880 families, residing along its banks.
Meanwhile, heavy rain is expected to continue in parts of Kerala in the coming days. The Meteorological Department has issued yellow alert for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram and Wayanad districts today.
Fishermen along the Kerala-Karnataka-Lakshadweep coasts have been advised not to venture into sea. Strong winds are also possible in these regions.
However, the water level in the Periyar River has not risen considerably so far. The Idukki district administration has made arrangements to evacuate residents living along the riverbanks in case of any emergency. According to the most recent measurement, the dam’s water level remains at 136.25 feet. Due to a reduction in rainfall in the catchment areas, the outflow has dropped to 2,788.08 cubic feet per second. Of this, 2,117 cubic feet per second is being diverted to Tamil Nadu through the tunnel to the Vaigai Dam.
On Saturday night at 10 PM, the water level had reached the rule curve mark of 136 feet. However, the Idukki District Collector had earlier requested Tamil Nadu not to open the shutters during the night. Based on this, Tamil Nadu had informed in the morning that the shutters would be opened at 12 noon. Yet, the shutters were actually opened at 11:35 AM. In previous years, the shutters were opened suddenly and without prior warning at night, causing floodwaters to enter homes along the Periyar riverbanks.