Even as rain has subsided in Virudhunagar district, Water Resources Department began to release water from Vembakottai dam on Wednesday evening after issuing third and final flood warning.
The entire inflow of 600 cusecs was being discharged into Vaippar River to maintain a cushion of two-foot depth in the dam anticipating more rain during the Northeast monsoon, according to Executive Engineer (Vaippar Basin) C. Malarvizhi.
As and when the depth of water touched 6.4 metres, the water release began.
“Since, the impact of Northeast monsoon is expected in October and November, we have provided adequate cushion in the dam as a precuation to face any flash flood,” she added.
However, the Executive Engineer said that the released water would be absorbed by Irukkankudi reservoir near Sattur which has got only 50% storage till date.
Ms. Malarvizhi said that the works of replacing the shutters in Anaikuttam dam has been completed and 2.5 metres of depth of water has been stored in the dam as against its full depth of 7.5 metres.
“We hope to store water to the the maximum storage level during this monsoon,” she added.
Meanwhile, the 193.17 cusecs of water was being discharged from Periyar Pilavakkal dam. The water level in the dam stood at 202.5 metres (the maximum level 204.5 metres) with an inflow of 193.25 cusecs.
Similarly, the entire inflow of 147.94 cusecs of water was surplussing through the weir from Sasthakovil dam. The dam had the maximum storage of 36.47 mcft.
However, no discharge is being made from other dams in the district.
Water level in other dams (in metres) recorded at 6 a.m. on Wednesday: Kovilar dam 205.05 (212); Golwarpatti 59.5 (62.5), Anaikuttam 89.52 (95), Kullur Santhai 86.225 (87.565) and Irukkangudi 52.95 (54.85).
Rainfall: Kariyapatti recorded the highest rainfall of 39 mm in the last 24 hours ending at 6 a.m. on Wednesday.
Rainfall recorded in other places (in mm): Aruppukottai 33.10, Tiruchuli 31, Virudhunagar and Kullur Santhai 30 mm each, Sivakasi 21, Watrap 12.20, Kovilar 8.8, Vembakottai 8.60, Periyar Pilavakkal 8.20, Rajapalayam 8, Sasthakovil 7 and Srivilliputtur 2.4 mm.
Published – October 22, 2025 06:47 pm IST
