THRISSUR: Four shutters of the Chimmony dam, one of the biggest irrigation dams in the district, were opened by 5 centimetres on Monday morning as the water level crossed 75.8 metre following heavy rain in the catchment areas of the reservoir. The maximum water-level or the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of the dam is 76.4 metre, the Chimmony irrigation project officials said.
The dam shutters were opened previously in the month of July in 2011 and 2013. They were not opened at all in 2012 due to the scanty rainfall. The dam authorities also issued a statutory warning the other day saying that the shutters could be opened any time as the water-level was on the rise following heavy rain.
People living on the banks of the Kurumali river and close to the irrigation canals were asked by the district administration to be vigilant about the rising water-levels following the release of water from the dam. The shutters of Vazhani Dam, another major earth dam built for irrigation purpose and promoting tourism across the Vadakkancherry puzha, one of the tributaries of Keecherripuzha, will be opened any time soon as they water-level in the dam has reached close to the full reservoir capacity. Vazhani Dam helps irrigate an area of about 3,560 hectares during summers.
Two Drown
Meanwhile, two people drowned in two separate rain-related incidents in Thrissur. The body of 35-year-old Reji, of Ollur, who went missing the other day, was found in a pond near Ollur on Monday morning. He reportedly slipped into the pond while fishing. The body of another man, Mahin, 48, of Vadookkara, was also found in a pond near Vadookkara crematorium. He is believed to have fallen into the pond accidentally on Sunday night, the police said.
Sea Turns Rough
Panic gripped the coastal areas of Thrissur as high tidal waves lashed the coastline from Saturday evening. The sea turned rough in parts of Kodungallur and Chavakkad taluks wrecking havoc along the coastline. Huge waves advanced to houses close to the sea, uprooting Coconut and Casuarina trees, a bio-shield against rough seas.
The worst-hit areas were the Ethayi and Pokkencherry in Chavakkad taluk where the sea water entered into around 13 houses on Monday.
Following such reports, C N Jayadevan MP visited the area and assured the people that the matter would urgently be brought to the attention of the Chief Minister and representatives of the Union government.