Flood alert sounded as Bhavani river in spate

: A flood alert has been sounded in Mettupalayam and nearby areas in the district as the Bhavani river is expected to be in spate, following discharge of surplus water from the Pilloor Dam.
People in low lying areas and living on the banks of the river such as Mettupalayam, Sirumugai and Alankombu have been asked to move to safer places, in anticipation of flood waters affecting normal life, official sources said.
The inflow into the dam was increasing, following heavy rains in catchment areas like Attapatti, Avalanji and also neigbouring Kerala for the last couple days, they said.
The storage level of the 100-foot dam has increased by four feet over the last few days and is now 85 feet.

With hydel project in operations, discharge is 6,000 cft, resulting in the river being in spate, the sources said.
In view of this, the district administration has sounded a flood alert and residents were asked to move to safer places, they said.