Tamil Nadu Flood Alert: Vaigai Dam Water Level Surges, Warning Issued for Five Districts
Heavy rains swell Vaigai dam, prompting flood warnings.
Torrential rainfall in the Mullai Periyar and Varusanadu hills has caused a dramatic surge in Vaigai dam’s water levels, prompting the Water Resources Department (WRD) to issue a first-stage flood warning for Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivagangai, and Ramanathapuram districts. By 7 pm on Saturday, the dam’s storage soared to 66.01 feet, a sharp four-foot rise within a single day, driven by heavy inflows.
Theni district recorded an average rainfall of 46.61 mm on Friday morning, with Thekkady receiving a staggering 158 mm and Shanmuganadhi area 95 mm. Persistent downpours since Friday night battered the Varusanadu hill ranges in Andipatti taluk, swelling the Moola Vaigai river and other tributaries like Kottagudi, Manjalar, and Kattaru streams. The Mullai Periyar dam’s discharge of 1,400 cusecs to Tamil Nadu, combined with widespread rainfall, further boosted the Vaigai reservoir’s inflow.
At 6 am Saturday, the dam stood at 62.47 feet against its 71-foot capacity, with an inflow of 2,268 cusecs. By 1 pm, the inflow skyrocketed to 17,310 cusecs, pushing the storage to 64.5 feet. By 7 pm, it crossed 66 feet with an average inflow of 17,652 cusecs. To manage the rising levels, WRD released 1,349 cusecs for irrigation and drinking water needs.
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A senior WRD official stated, “Intense rainfall in the upper catchment areas has led to full-flowing tributaries, causing a rapid rise in the dam’s inflow. We’re closely monitoring and regulating outflows to balance storage and downstream safety.” The department is maintaining 24/7 vigilance at the dam and low-lying areas to prevent flooding.
Farmers have urged authorities to release water into 58 canals to recharge tanks and boost groundwater levels in Madurai. With the situation evolving rapidly, WRD is on high alert to ensure safety and effective water management.
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