Alert as water crosses danger mark in Mullaperiyar Dam

Idukki, Nov 14 (UNI) As water level in the 110-year-old Mullaperiyar dam continued to rise above the danger mark of 136 ft, the district authorities declared a 'high alert' in the reservoir area today.

The water level, which stood at 136.4 ft this morning following heavy overnight rains, rose to 136.9 ft this evening.

Excess water was being diverted into spillways to the Idukki dam and there was no cause for alarm, district officials said. There was no evacuation of people.

Meanwhile, Kerala Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran and members of the state Dam Safety Authority were scheduled to visit the dam site tomorrow morning to review the situation, officials said.

State Water Resources Department Chief Engineer K Diwakaran, who inspected the dam following instructions from Mr Premachandran yesterday, reported that seepage through the 'Baby Dam' next to the main Mullaperiyar dam was 'serious'.

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