Flood alert stays even as Mukkombu flow recedes

TIRUCHY: The flow at Upper Anicut (Mukkombu) on Wednesday has been gradually receding and officials are constantly monitoring the situation and the discharge into the Cauvery and the Kollidam.

However, the flood alert continues in areas on the banks of various rivers in Mayiladuthurai district and rescue operation are on in full swing in residential areas which were inundated after the huge discharge from the Mettur dam.

According to official sources, the flow at the Upper Anicut was 2.01 lakh cusecs at 6 am on Wednesday. It gradually reduced to 1.87 lakh cusecs by 8 am and at 10 am, the flow stood at 1.62 lakh cusecs before coming down to 1.46 lakh cusecs by noon and to 75,000 cusecs by 8 pm. The discharge into Cauvery and Kollidam was made accordingly.

The respective district administrations where the Kollidam has been flowing continued to give flood alerts and took up rescue operations.

Meanwhile, Tiruchy Collector M Pradeep Kumar inspected the Ayyaru bank that collapsed at Gunaseelam. The Ayyaru was flooded due to the heavy rain at Kollimalai and Pachamalai regions. The Collector after inspecting the strengthening of the banks asked officials to carry out immediate measures to prevent flooding.

Similarly, in Mayiladuthurai, the surplus from Kollidam entered into Pazhayaru, Tsunami Nagar and Manmatha Nagar. Residents of these areas were evacuated to Palayar camp and the people from Muthalamedu Thittu and Achalpuram were shifted to the camp at Achalpuram. Collector R Lalitha, visited both the camps.

While the fire and rescue personnel could rescue three persons who were stranded in the marshy land amidst the Kollidam river in Ariyalur, the attempts to get back the goats went futile for the third day.