A lull in rainfall and an increase in discharge of water after the five shutters of the Cheruthoni dam were opened on Friday had an impact on the water level in the Idukki dam on Saturday.
The water level at 4 p.m. on Saturday was 2,400.52 ft, which was 2,401.76 ft at 4 p.m. on Friday.
While the gross inflow was 478 cumecs, the discharge of water to the power house through the Kulamavu dam was 115 cumecs.
Water was released through the Cheruthoni dam at 750 cumecs.
Idamalayar dam
For the first time since all its four shutters were opened on Thursday morning, the water level in the Idamalayar dam dropped below the Full Reservoir Limit of 169 metres, enabling the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to close three shutters, reducing the discharge of water to 100 cubic metres per second (cumecs).
However, the inflow rose marginally to 246.22 cumecs by evening.
The water level in the dam stood at 168.97 metres on Saturday at 5 p.m. Of the four shutters, only the second has been kept open by a metre.
Mullaperiyar dam
With Tamil Nadu drawing more water from the Mullaperiyar dam upstream of the Idukki dam, the water level was rising at a slow rate in the dam. It was 135 ft on Saturday. The maximum water level is 142 ft.
A team led by Electricity Minister M.M.Mani and Forest Minister K. Raju reviewed the losses due to rain at a meeting at Government College, Kattappana, on Saturday.
Damage assessment
As many as 13 persons lost their life and five were missing. Crops in 3,890 hectares had been destroyed, 56 houses totally damaged, and 929 houses partially damaged. Many roads were damaged in landslips and floods. As many as 17 relief camps were functioning in the district and the meeting decided to ensure medicines and food supply there.