Owing to heavy water flow, tourists have been banned from visiting Suruli Falls near Cumbum in Theni district on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Heavy rain in the last 24 to 30 hours in many parts of Kerala resulted in a steep increase in the storage level of Mullaperiyar dam on Saturday.Officials in the Water Resources Department and the revenue administration said that following heavy rainfall in neighbouring Kerala, the inflow into the Mullaperiyar reservoir rose from 454 cusecs to 1,012 cusecs to 2,649 cusecs to 7,000 cusecs. As a sequel, the storage level went up from 112.45 feet on July 31 to 113.70 ft on August 1 ( 6 a.m. ) and again touched 116 feet by 6 p.m.During the day time alone, there was a rise of 2.5 feet of water and with the rainfall continuing, the inflow was expected to go up steadily. However, water could not be released from the Tamil Nadu side due to encroachment issues. Bushes had covered the area thickly and officials were engaged in removing them on a war-footing.It is likely that the bone-dry areas in Theni district may absorb the water enroute as it reaches Vaigai dam in the next 24 hours or so.Meanwhile, Idukki District Collector Dinesan Cheruvat in a press release stated that visitors to tourist spots like Munnar should avoid the journey due to heavy rainfall. He also suggested people to step out or visit the hill station only on any emergency situation.The ghat section too has been experiencing steady rains and the highways authority have been put on alert to check for any road cuts and tree fall. Vehicles coming up may avoid travel between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. and holidaying at the resorts too may be postponed by tourists.The district administration has urged the suspension of trekking, boating as a temporary measure. Similarly, using heavy vehicles in drilling and excavation works shall be stopped until further orders. The Collector appealed to the public to cooperate with the officials and ensure that there were no untoward incidents.Steps were being taken to open up relief centres/camps for the people, the release added.In southern district of Tamil Nadu, heavy rain across the western ghats forced people to stay away from entering the famous Courtallam water falls in Tenkasi district on Saturday. Likewise, Suruli water falls in Theni district too was shut for tourists due to floods, forest department officials said. Published - August 01, 2026 09:12 pm IST
