Over 150 houses inundated as Cauvery overflows

Erode: More than 150 houses close to the banks of the Cauvery in Erode district were inundated on Thursday, throwing life out of gear for the residents.
The district authorities have evacuated more than 350 people from the houses and have sheltered them in government buildings in the locality.
Similarly, the overflowing Sarabanga river entered 20 houses in Salem district and the residents were evacuated. With 1.3 lakh cusecs being released from Mettur dam, the Cauvery continued to be in spate leaving the people in low-lying areas along the river on tenterhooks. The district administration authorities, police and fire service personnel were also on high alert.
This is the fourth time that houses in low-lying areas along the Cauvery were inundated in the last three months due to heavy rain in catchment areas and abundant water released from Karnataka. Mettur dam had reached its full reservoir level more than two months back and the entire inflow has been discharged since then.
On Wednesday, the outflow was 90,000 cusecs. Water overflowed and entered residences at Kanthan Nagar, Basaveshwarar temple, Keeraikara Street, Palakkarai and adjoining areas behind the Bhavani new bus stand. Even as the flood water failed to recede, the water flow in the Cauvery increased inundating more areas on Thursday as the outflow from the Mettur dam was increased to 1.3 lakh cusecs. Officials are keeping a close watch on low-lying areas in Ammapettai, Kodumudi and Karungalpalayam that face threat of inundation.
In Salem district, Sarabanga river swelled as rainwater from Yercaud hills and Sheveroy hills drained into it. The river water entered 20 houses behind the bus stand at Edappadi. Residents complained that sewage water was mixed with the rainwater posing a health threat.