Heavy rains in Amaravathi Dam's catchment area near Udumalaipettai have led to flooding in Koottaru, stranding over 10 tribal settlements. Residents face difficulties accessing essential services and medical care.
Tirupur: Heavy rains in the catchment areas of Amaravathi Dam near Udumalaipettai in Tirupur district have caused flooding in the Koottaru region, severely affecting the lives of tribal residents in more than 10 settlements. The affected areas include Pambaru, Thoovanam, Maraiyur, Kandalur, and Koottaru.
The flooding has cut off access to essential services and emergency medical care for tribal communities in settlements such as Thalinchi, Thalinchi Vayal, Keezhana Vayal, and Manjampatti. These communities have been using this route for several years to reach the plains.
The current situation has forced residents to resort to using small boats to cross the swollen Koottaru river, putting their lives at risk. There are concerns that any further increase in water levels could lead to accidents.
Tribal residents have long been demanding the construction of a wooden bridge across Koottaru to facilitate safe crossing during monsoon seasons. However, this request has remained unaddressed for years. The affected communities are now urging authorities to conduct an inspection of the area and provide a temporary wooden bridge to ensure their safety and connectivity.
Meanwhile, due to continuous rainfall in the catchment area, the Amaravathi Dam is receiving an inflow of 2,800 cubic feet per second.
For safety reasons, 2,325 cubic feet of surplus water is being released through the sluice gates. Currently, the dam's water level stands at 88.19 feet against its full capacity of 90 feet.