VELLORE: The Ponnai river in the district is overflowing, following heavy rain and the release of water from the Kavalagunta dam across the Baguda river in Andhra Pradesh. Speaking to reporters, Collector VR Subbulaxmi said that on Friday morning, 1,845 cusecs of water was released from the Kavalagunta dam to the Ponnai dam in Vellore.
Of the 1,845 cusecs, about 330 cusecs are diverted to the Ponnai and the remaining are sent through the right and left channels from the dam. While water from the right channel will flow through Vellore and fill multiple lakes, water from the left channel will flow via Panapakkam and Arakkonam.
“We have already issued flood warnings to residents in villages close to the river for the past two days. Village administrative officers and revenue inspectors are continuously monitoring low-lying areas. There is no cause for fear,” she said. Due to heavy rain, this river is also in spate, she said, adding that VAOs and RIs are monitoring low-lying villages.
As many as 135 temporary camps have been set up to rescue people in case of flooding. Subbulaxmi also said rainwater has surrounded around 15 to 20 houses close to Nicholson canal, the largest channel carrying rainwater and sewage in Vellore.