Highlights
- Residents were warned against entering the river. Taking selfies on the river banks and at check- dams is prohibited.
- Along with village administrative officers, village assistants, and panchayat secretaries, they will keep a close watch on the waterbodies in the district.
Vellore Collector P. Kumaravel Pandian has issued a flood alert to residents in 20 low-lying villages along the Koundinya, a tributary of the Palar after 844 cusecs of water was discharged from the Mordhana dam in Gudiyatham.
Low-lying areas on alert
Low-lying areas such as Mordhana, Kottaramadagu, Jittapalli, Sempalli, Jangalapalli, Upparapalli, Thattaparai, Andakanpatti, Rangasamuthiram, Renuga Puram, Agravaram, Perumbadi, Meenur, Moongapattu, Seevur, Gudiyatham town, Indira Nagar, Olakkasi, Sithathur, and Idharpuram are being monitored by officials.
Advisory for residents
Residents of these areas were asked to move to higher places. The first alert issued by the district administration, ahead of the northeast monsoon, follows the heavy rain in the catchments like Chittoor, Ponnai, Palar, Gundar, Goudanyamahanadhi, and Malattar for the past few days. Residents were warned against entering the river. Taking selfies on the river banks and at check- dams are prohibited.
Measures are taken to handle the flood-like situation
Special teams have been formed to handle any emergencies. They are made up of engineers of the PWD-Water Resources Department, firefighters, and officials of the Revenue, Rural Development, Health, Police Departments, and local bodies. These teams will inspect low-lying areas, ponds, and the shutters of all lakes and tanks to ensure that there is no breach.
Along with village administrative officers, village assistants and panchayat secretaries, they will keep a close watch on the waterbodies in the district. Adequate sandbags have been kept ready at key points near the waterbodies vulnerable to flooding.
Water released from dams amid rainfall
Katpadi, Gudiyatham, Kannamangalam, and K.V. Kuppam in Vellore have been receiving heavy evening rain for the past few days. In Ranipet, 1,514 cusecs were released from its dams, including the Palar anaicut, Mahendravadi, and Kaveripakkam. Of the total 369 tanks in the district, 99 are full.
A low-level bridge across the Palar at Pachakuppam village near Ambur in Tirupattur submerged on Monday with heavy rain pounding Vaniyambadi, Tirupattur town, Alangayam, Natrampalli, and Jolarpettai.
The bridge has been the lifeline for more than 30 villages in Ambur taluk. Of 49 tanks under the PWD, 25 are full. Tiruvannamalai, Chengam, Arani, Vandavasi, Jamunamarathoor, Polur, and Cheyyar have been receiving steady rain.
