Chennai, Aug 30 (BPNS)

The Erode district administration in Tamil Nadu has sounded a flood alert to people living in the low-lying areas of the district as Stanley Reservoir in Mettur will be stepped up to 1.50 lakh cusecs. The discharge, according to district administration could be increased more and this could lead water to gash into the houses in the low-lying areas of Erode from Tuesday night.

Officials of the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department told BPNS that with an increased inflow following heaving rains at the catchment areas,  the discharge from the Mettur dam was increased from 1.30 lakh cusecs to 1.50 lakh cusecs. With the flow of water into the reservoir on an ascendancy, the discharge will be increased to 1.70 lakh cusecs at any moment. This has prompted the district administration to direct people living in low-lying areas and those living on the banks of river to stay safe and to move out from their residences.

The district administration officials told BPNS that water could enter 50 to 75 houses by Tuesday night and those residing in these places would be shifted to relief centres. District administration has arranged three to five relief centres for accommodating those who would be removed from their residences by Tuesday evening.

It is to be noted that 448 people are already in relief centres in the district following water entering low-lying areas.