Pathanamthitta: Incessant rain has led to a significant inflow into reservoirs in the district, forcing the authorities to open the shutters of the Kakki-Anathode dam. Meanwhile, a red alert has also been sounded for lifting the shutters of the Pampa dam.
Of the four shutters of the Anathode dam, the two in the middle were raised by 7.50 cm each, allowing the water to flow into the Kakki river. The river courses through thick forest to reach Pampa Triveni in Sabarimala. The Kakki river joins the Pampa there. The muddy water from Anathode dam reached Triveni in six hours. As a result, water level rose by about 1 m.
Meanwhile, a red alert was sounded at Pampa dam after the water level crossed 986 m. The maximum permissible level is 986.33 m. The shutters will be raised any time, said the district collector. Water will be released at a rate of 100 cuft per second. After the shutters are raised, the water level in Pampa may rise by up to three metres. The district administration has cautioned people living in downstream.
The Pampa river is already in spate. Sabarimala received 128 mm rain.
According to the Central Water Commission, the water level in the Pampa river at Malakkara in Aranmula is at 5.65 m. The water from Anathode dam is expected to reach the spot on Friday. In case the Pampa dam shutters are also lifted, possibilities of a flood cannot be ruled out.
Central team arriving
A three-member central team will arrive in the district on Friday to assess rain calamities. It is headed by joint secretary in the union home ministry A V Dharma Reddy. The team will hold discussions with the district collector at Thiruvalla at 9 am.
As many as 22 villages in Thiruvalla are flooded. Among them, the worst affected are Niranam, Peringara, Kadapra, Nedumbram and Kavumbhagom in Thiruvalla taluk which have been declared as flood affected by the state government. The district collector will submit a detailed report on the rain damage to the central team.
Control rooms
Control rooms functioning round-the-clock have been opened at all taluk and village offices in the district in view of the rains. People may contact these control rooms as well as the one functioning at the collectorate. The contact numbers are:
Collectorate - 0468 2322515, 2222515, 8078808915.
Taluk offices:
Kozhencherry – 0468 2222221
Adoor – 04734 224826
Konni – 0468 2240087
Ranni – 04735 227442
Mallappally – 0469 2682293
Thiruvalla – 0469 26013038
