Cauvery river in spate, water enters low-lying areas in Erode’s Bhavani

With the discharge from Mettur dam into Cauvery river being one lakh cusecs as on Monday (July 28, 2025), floodwaters have entered several low-lying residential areas within the Bhavani municipal limits. Officials are closely monitoring the situation and continue to issue advisories, maintaining round-the-clock vigilance.

The river enters Erode district at Nerinjipettai and flows through Ammapettai, Bhavani, Erode city and Kodumudi before entering Karur district. Several households situated in low-lying areas along the river — particularly in Kandhan Nagar, Cauvery Nagar, Pasuveswarar Street and Palakarai in Bhavani — are vulnerable to flooding. Among these, water has entered Cauvery Nagar. However, most of the residents continue to remain in their homes as water has not entered their homes.

As a precaution, the old bridge connecting Bhavani and Kumarapalayam in Namakkal district has been closed to traffic. Officials from the municipality, police, and revenue departments are actively involved in cautioning the public about the rising water levels.

NDRF, SDRF teams on standby

An official from the Disaster Management Department stated that 42 vulnerable spots across 30 revenue villages in the district have been identified. “So far, water has not entered any houses. That could happen only if the discharge exceeds 1.70 lakh cusecs,” the official said. A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is stationed in Bhavani, while a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team is camping at the Armed Reserve Ground in Erode city, ready to undertake rescue and relief operations if necessary.

The official added that 52 relief centres have been identified for evacuation if needed, but no families have been shifted to these centres so far.

Bathing ban

Boat services between Nerinjipettai in Erode and Poolampatti in Salem district have been suspended. Devotees are also barred from bathing at the ghats in Bhavani Kooduthurai and at the Kodumudi Sangameswarar temple. Barricades have been erected to restrict entry to the river.

Meanwhile, with 16,700 cusecs of water being discharged from the Bhavanisagar Dam into the Bhavani River, water has entered low-lying areas near the old bus stand in Bhavani’s Kuppam locality. However, since it has not entered their homes, residents continue to stay put. Additionally, the Kodiveri Anicut has been closed to tourists until further notice.