Chennai, Aug 7 (BPNS)

With the Bhavanisagar reservoir releasing 1.89 lakhs cusecs of water on Saturday, the delta districts of Tamil Nadu are on high alert. Tamil Nadu water resource department officials told BPNS that of the 1.89 lakh cusecs of water released from the Bhavanisagar reservoir, 59,661 cusecs were released into the Cauvery river and 1.29 lakh cusecs into the Kollidam river.

The Delta districts of Tiruchi, Thanjavur, and Karur are on high alert and the district administrations of these districts have issued warning signals to the people to stay alert to the possibility of rising water levels in these rivers and the possibility of water entering the houses.

It is to be noted that the Bhavanisagar reservoir reached 102 feet as against its maximum level of 105 feet, the water resources department released 25,863 cusecs of water into the Bhavani river on Saturday. Water released into Bhavani generally traverses through the river for some time and later joins the Cauvery.

Water Resources Department officials told BPNS that the water level will increase once the water released from the Bhavanisagar reservoir reaches the Upper Anicut. Tiruchi district collector M. Pradeep Kumar told BPNS that the district administration, police, and fire and rescue department are geared up for any eventuality.

The district authorities have already put personnel in 27 vulnerable spots in Tiruchi district and flood inputs are shared with them every hour.

More than 300 people have been evacuated and moved to camps in Srirangam, Manachanallur, and Lalgudi and 159 new relief camps will be formed soon, the district authorities told BPNS.

Karur district collector, Prabhu Shankar told BPNS that more than 150 families have been evacuated and accommodated at safe relief camps.