Flood alert issued along Thenpennai river in five Tamil Nadu districts

Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department officials issued a flood alert on June 17 for people living along the Thenpennai river in five Tamil Nadu districts after releasing water from the KRP dam as a precaution.

The alert covers Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai and Cuddalore. Officials released 988 cusecs from the Krishnagiri Reservoir Project, or KRP, dam, which feeds the river corridor downstream.

Why the alert was issued

The warning was issued to residents living on the riverbanks because the release from the dam could raise water levels in low-lying areas along the Thenpennai. The alert is meant to give local communities time to stay vigilant and follow official instructions.

The Thenpennai river system is considered flood-sensitive because releases from the KRP dam can affect multiple downstream districts at once. Past reporting has shown that similar inflow and release conditions have triggered alerts before.

What residents should watch

Residents in the affected corridor should monitor local warnings and be prepared for possible waterlogging or higher flows near the riverbanks. District administrations may issue additional safety instructions if discharge increases or conditions worsen.

At this stage, officials have issued the alert as a precaution. No separate report in the available research confirmed evacuations or local impacts yet.

What happens next

The main questions now are whether the KRP dam release will rise further and whether downstream districts will announce any additional measures. Further monitoring will focus on water levels along the river and any impact in vulnerable settlements.