Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rains lashed multiple parts of Kerala on Saturday, causing flooding in low-lying areas and a rise in water levels in reservoirs, including the Mullaperiyar dam in Idukki, prompting authorities to open its shutters to release excess water.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers across the state over the next seven days. Orange alerts, indicating very heavy rainfall of 11–20 cm in 24 hours, have been issued for Pathanamthitta, Idukki, and Kottayam districts on Saturday, and for Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, and Malappuram districts on Sunday.
Flooding was reported in Idukki district’s Kumily, Nedumkanadam, and Kattappana areas, forcing overnight evacuations. Around 45 families were shifted to safe locations. A parked van was washed away at Nedumkandam due to the rising Kootar River. High-range areas of Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode also witnessed flooding of roads.
The IMD attributed the heavy rainfall to a well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjacent Lakshadweep region, which is expected to intensify into a depression within 36 hours. Additional cyclonic circulations over the Mannar Strait and southeast Bay of Bengal could trigger more rainfall over the state. Fishermen along the coasts of Kerala, Lakshadweep, and Karnataka have been advised to avoid venturing into the sea till October 22 due to strong winds of 35–45 kmph, gusting up to 55 kmph.
Authorities have released water from several dams to manage inflows. All 13 shutters of the Mullaperiyar dam were opened, releasing 7,163 cusecs of water as the reservoir level rose to 138.80 feet, above the permissible limit of 137 feet. The Kallarkutty and Kallar dams also had shutters raised, releasing 500 and 1,063 cusecs of water, respectively. People living along the banks of Kallar and Chinnar rivers have been alerted to possible flooding.
The Idukki reservoir, Kerala’s largest dam, recorded a water level of 2,381.92 feet with 75.8% live storage on Saturday morning, while all its shutters remained closed.
