Flood alert in Tamil Nadu. People living in low lying areas evacuated.

Chennai: The state machinery has evacuated nearly 359 people living along the banks in low lying areas in Salem, Erode and Namakkal districts.

“The evacuated villagers have been sheltered in four relief camps. A maximum of 276 people including 36 children have been evacuated in Namakkal district. While two relief camps have been set up in Namakkal, one each has been established in Salem and Erode districts,” said R B Udayakumar, minister of revenue and state disaster management department.

The inflow into the Mettur dam stood at 1.3 lakh cusecs. “Villagers have been advised not to venture close to the river, for bathing, fishing or taking photographs. While there was a general advisory for people not to go close to the river in spate, parents have been specifically told not to allow their children anywhere near the river or other water channels. Warning messages are issued periodically in villages along the banks using public address system,” said Udayakumar in a statement issued by the government.

The Mettur reservoir has attained 120 feet, its full capacity, for the second time this year due to heavy rainfall. “The state government has also instructed local bodies to erect warning boards on either side of low level bridges and causeways about the flood situation,” added Udayakumar.