Concerns are galore after the Met department has forecast that heavy rain is likely to continue in most parts of Kerala till Wednesday. Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam and northern districts are likely to witness heavy rainfall in the coming days.
With heavy rain lashing several parts of Kerala, shutters of major dams, including the arch dam in Idukki, are likely to be opened.
With the water level in the Idukki dam nearing its maximum, the Kerala government has put the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard on alert to meet any eventuality in case water is released.
The Kerala government issued an orange alert along the banks of Periyar river on Monday night as the water levels in Idukki dam touched 2,395 feet against the full level of 2,403 feet. The orange alert implies that the present condition could significantly impact the people in the affected area.
When the level reaches 2,397 feet, there is a possibility of water being released on a trial basis for one or two hours, sources in the Kerala State Electricity Board said.
A team of National Disaster Management Force has already been deployed in Ernakulam and Thrissur and another team would reach Idukki. The reservoir comprises three dams—Idukki, Cheruthoni and Kulamavu—built for the the Idukki Hydroelectric Project.
The Malampuzha dam in Palakkad will have its shutters lifted as the region in the Western Ghats continues to receive showers. Incessant rain in its catchment areas has led to water levels rising to maximum capacity.
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It will be for the first time in four years that the sluice gates of the dam will be opened. Pothundi Dam, also in Palakkad district that borders Tamil Nadu, is poised to open its shutters.
Meanwhile, all educational institutions, other than professional colleges, will remain shut on Tuesday in Thiruvananthapuram and some parts of Kannur due to heavy rain.
Some private schools in the Thiruvananthapuram decided to continue as the students had already reached before the collector declared holiday and it was safer for the students to remain in school than to return home.
In Kannur, all schools in Kottiyoor, Kelakam, Kanichar, Thillemkeri, Muzhakunnu, Kolayad, Chittariparamba will remain closed on Tuesday.
It has been decided that compensatory classes will be conducted during the next upcoming holiday.
More than 40 people were killed in rain-related incidents in Kerala during the second spell of monsoon from July 9. Alappuzha and Kottayam districts were the worst-affected.
A central team led by Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Alphons Kannanthanam had visited the flood affected areas earlier this month and promised assistance to deal with the situation. The Centre had also sanctioned Rs 80 crore to the state as initial aid.
Another central inter-ministerial team headed by a joint secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs would visit the state to assess the quantum of damage and losses occurred in various sectors due to the rain and floods.