Our Correspondent
As the strong monsoon winds in the Arabian Sea are likely to continue for the next two days, isolated showers are expected in Kerala for the next 24 hours, according to the Central Meteorological Department.
New low pressure trough has formed near the Odisha-Andhra coast in the Bay of Bengal. Extreme levels of rainfall are expected in Odisha and Vidarbha region, the Met Department said in its press note.
Alert sounded
The Pampa dam was flooded due to heavy rains. KSEB estimates that the dam will have to be opened today. But people need not worry. KSEB said that the flow of water will not be significant and there will be no significant problems as it is a small dam.
KSEB chairman NS Pillai said there was no concern over major dams including Idukki. Rain was continuing in the catchment areas of the dams. However, the KSEB chairman said that there was no need to release water excessively.
Pathanamthitta District Collector A.B. Nooh said that people living on the banks of Pampa and Kakkat rivers, especially Ranni, Kozhencherry and Aranmula areas, and the general public should be vigilant. The Collector also requested to avoid going into rivers, reservoirs and dams as the water level was high.
The water level in the dam was stable at 983.45 meters as per the readings of 7 am and 8 am on August 9. Although there was light rainfall in the vicinity of the Pampa Dam, the water level remains stable due to the discharge of water through a tunnel connecting the Pampa Reservoir and the Kaki Reservoir. In this way, 70 cusecs of water is discharged from Pampa to Kaki. Currently, 70 cubic meters of water is received from the catchment area of Pampa Dam.
The collector said that two shutters of the Pampa Dam will be opened. He said, “As water level rises to 40 cm Ranni town will be flooded in five hours. People are being evacuated from flood-prone areas.” Six shutters will be opened at two feet each. The District Collector said he was not worried about opening Pampa dam.
