Chennai: Authorities lifted as many as nine thirteen shutters of the Mullaperiyar dam on Tuesday as water levels reached 142 feet. Five of the shutters were raised by 60 cm, while the remaining four shutters were raised by 30 cm, according to the officials, in order to send the excess water into the Periyar river.

Water levels increased above 141.9 feet by Monday night, despite Tamil Nadu authorities resuming tunnel discharge on Sunday evening and raising one shutter (aside from shutter V3, which has been open since November 23).

Water levels had risen as a result of heavy rain on Monday night, requiring the authorities to release the excess water. Residents living downstream have been notified of the situation and encouraged to flee.

Despite its geographical location in Kerala, the British-era masonry gravity dam is maintained by the Tamil Nadu government. The dam is at the centre of a dispute between the two states, with Kerala wanting to build a new dam and Tamil Nadu opposing it.

Tamil Nadu opens two spillway shutters of Mullaperiyar dam

IMD issues red alert as conditions in these states worsened due to torrential rains

Heavy rain in Andhra may occur today and tomorrow, IMD issues alert