With Bhavani river in spate, a flood alert has been sounded to those living on the banks and and low lying areas near Mettupalayam in the district, have been asked to move to safer places.

With moderate to heavy rains being experienced in the catchment areas, the level of Pilloor dam has reached 98 feet around 8 am today from 91.5 feet recorded 8 pm yesterday, official sources said.

The total capacity of the dam is 100 feet. With nearly 20,000 cubic feet inflow, the dam could brim to full and in view of this nearly 12,000 cubic feet of water is being released through four sluice gates and regular 6,000 ct for electricity generation, to maintain the
level, they said.

The release has resulted in Bhavani in spate and the people living on the banks, including Mettupalayam, Nellithurai and Sirumugai have been asked to move to safer places, even as good rains continue to lash in hilly areas of Nilgiris
district since last night.