Cauvery in spate as rain lashes catchment areas

Dharmapuri: The district administration banned entry to Hogenakkal Falls and suspended coracle rides after inflow to the Cauvery river increased to 20,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) on Sunday afternoon.
The inflow drastically increased at Hogenakkal after the catchment areas of the Cauvery river basin received heavy rainfall in the past two days.
The inflow was recorded at 5,000 cusecs two days ago and it rose to 10,000 cusecs around 9am on Sunday, before it reached 17,000 cusecs around 2pm, causing Hogenakkal Falls to flood.The inflow further shot up to 20,000 cusecs around 4pm.
District collector A Shanthi subsequently banned the operation of coracles at Hogenakkal. Tourists were not allowed to visit Hogenakkal Falls and advised against entering or bathing in the Cauvery river.
Several hundreds of people had flocked to Hogenakkal to enjoy their holiday on Sunday. Some of them had the opportunity to bathe at the falls and take coracle rides in the morning.