In response to relentless heavy rainfall, the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) announced on Saturday, October 18, 2025, that all 13 gates of the Mullaperiyar reservoir have been fully opened. This measure initiates a controlled discharge of 5,000 cusecs of water, with the possibility of increasing this volume further based on the established rule curve guidelines.
Department officials detailed the escalating situation, noting that significant rainfall in the dam’s catchment areas led to an alarming inflow of 40,733 cusecs. As a result, the reservoir’s water level surged from 132.90 feet at 11 p.m. on Friday, October 17, to a critical 136 feet by 3 a.m. on Saturday, October 18.
Subsequently, at 9 a.m. on October 18, authorities began releasing an additional 1,078 cusecs through radial gates R, R2, and R3. By that time, the water level within the reservoir had reached 138.45 feet, underscoring the urgent need for managed outflow to prevent overfilling and ensure safety.