Flood Alert! Tamil Nadu's Mettur Dam Hits Full Capacity for Third Time in 2025

Tamil Nadu’s Mettur Dam, a critical lifeline for the state’s agriculture, reached its full reservoir level of 120 feet for the third time this year on Sunday, driven by heavy rainfall in the Western Ghats and robust inflows from Karnataka’s Kabini and Krishna Raja Sagar dams.

The Water Resources Department has increased water discharge from 22,500 cusecs to 31,000 cusecs to manage the rising levels, triggering flood alerts across 10 districts, including Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Ariyalur, Trichy, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Cuddalore.

The surge, fueled by an active southwest monsoon and inflows of up to 58,324 cusecs, has brought cheer to farmers in the Cauvery delta, ensuring ample water for kharif cultivation.

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However, authorities have urged residents in low-lying areas to stay vigilant, with the Revenue and Disaster Management Department coordinating potential evacuations. Public access to the dam and riverbanks is restricted for safety.

The Mettur Dam, also known as Stanley Reservoir, supports irrigation and drinking water for over 12 districts. This marks the 44th time since its 1934 construction that it has reached full capacity, a rare occurrence in June, previously seen only in 1957.

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