Flood alert in Hogenakkal as Cauvery swells

DHARMAPURI: With Karnataka releasing surplus water from its dams in the wake of heavy rains, a flood alert was today issued to people living on the banks of river Cauvery in the district and all tourist activities banned at the famous Hogenakkal Water Falls.Due to the continous rainfall in the forest and catchment areas of reservoirs in Karnataka, the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) and Kabini dams were filling fast, promoting authorities in the neighbouring state to discharge increased quantity of water into Cauvery, PWD officials here said.As per reading taken at 6 pm, inflow at Hogenakkal, where river Cauvery enters Tamil Nadu, was 30,000 cusecs per second, they said adding tourists had been banned from taking bath both in the water falls and the river also.All tourist activities, including coracle operation, have been suspended until further orders, officials said.The district administration has ordered residents of low lying areas to move to safer places.