idukki dam

As a measure of precaution, the Cochin International Airport Limited (Cial) has stopped its arrival operation from 1.10 pm on Thursday. The move comes after the third shutter of the idukki dam has been raised 50 cm at 12.30 pm on Thursday as part of the trial run for opening the idukki dam.

idukki dam, one of the highest arch dams in Asia, has been opened 26 years after it was last opened in 1992 as the third shutter of the dam was raised 50 cm at 12.30 pm on Thursday as part of the trial run for the complete opening the dam.

Terming the state disaster management authority's suggestion to lift the shutters of idukki dam well before the water level in it touches the maximum (2,403ft) as a debatable contention of academic nature, the state government has decided against draining water from the dam which -- according to Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) -- can hold water up to the full reservoir level of 2,408ft in case of additional surge of water into the dam.

The remains of a submerged village with several buildings, a church, and homes were revealed on the catchment area of the idukki dam near Kulamavu for the first time in five decades after the dam water levels plummeted.

Following heavy rain which lashed the district in the last 24 hours the water level in Idukki reservoir continued to rise, which reached 2,380.64 ft on Wednesday, meanwhile, the water level in Mullaperiyar dam was at 126.06ft.

idukki dam, one of the largest arch dams in the world, might turn into a huge screen during evenings.

A high-power meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here on Thursday morning has decided to open one shutter of Idukky dam by 12 noon for a trial run. The decision comes in the wake of water level in the reservoir inching towards the brim at an unprecedented pace.

He said Annamalai has only been a police officer and should remain calm on this issue as he does not know anything about Tamil Nadu.

Even as Kerala had begun to heave a sigh of relief with the fall in water levels in idukki dam reservoir, a next dam crisis appears to be looming further upstream as the Mullaperiyar dam where the water levels has crossed 136 ft.

The high level meeting chaired by the chief minister Pinaray Vijayan decided to release at total of 700 cubic metres per second of water on Friday. Around 8 lakh litres of water have increased in the reservoir with the total at 2401.50 ft at 12pm.

In the wake of repeating tremors in Idukki, KSEB will soon fix a digital seismograph system in idukki dam. In the absence of a proper digital seismograph system in the dam, KSEB is yet to find the actual magnitude and epicentre of the recent tremors.

Power minister M M Mani on Thursday said the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast of the heavy rain spell came just two days before its start. He also refuted allegations that the release of water from dams led to the floods.

Shutters of Idamalayar and idukki dams would be lifted marginally at 6am and 11am respectively, on Tuesday. KSEB authorities here on Monday said the decision to drain 100cumecs (cubic metre per second) water from the dams was on a precautionary note in view of heavy rain forecast for three days from Wednesday.

In the wake of the increasing water level in Idukki reservoir, one shutter of the Cheruthoni dam will be raised up to 40-150cm, releasing 40 to 150 cusecs of water from 6am on Tuesday, the Idukki district collector said. The water level in Idukki at 9pm was 2,401.12ft.

Water level in idukki dam reservoir is dipping considerably compared to previous years. As on March 1, water storage has come down to 49% compared to 70% last year. Water level in the reservoir on the same day in 2022 was 2,375.86ft against the present 2,353.94ft, which is nearly 22ft lesser than last year.

A 17-year-old girl died after falling into the idukki dam reservoir allegedly while taking a selfie on Saturday. The deceased has been identified as Isha Fathima, daughter of Panachikal Shajahan, a resident of Vazhakkala in Ernakulam.

If the Mullaperiyar dam bursts, the idukki dam won’t be able to contain its water, said R Balakrishna Pillai, former minister and the chairman of Kerala Congress (B), here on Saturday.

The Idukki and Cheruthoni dams will be thrown open to the public for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Except on Wednesdays, when routine inspections take place, visitors will be allowed on all days from December 1 to January 31, officials of KSEB have informed.