Alert declared as water crosses danger mark in Mullaperiyar Dam

Idukki, Nov 14 (UNI) As the water level in the 110-year-old Mullaperiyar dam continued to increase 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, had risen to 136.9 ft in the evening.

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

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

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

UNI XR ARC KKS2010