A file picture of the Avalanche-Emerald dam, seen from Ittalar Village.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Despite rains easing off across the Nilgiris, many tourist spots operated by the Forest Department, including Doddabetta Peak, Pine Forest and the Eighth Mile Tree Park were closed to the public for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday (July 27, 2025). The Avalanche dam had also almost reached almost full-capacity, leading officials from TANGEDCO to decide on releasing water through the dam’s sluice gates.
The Forest Department announced the tourist spots were closed owing to concerns over public safety due to heavy winds.
The Nilgiris district administration stated an average of 50.46 mm of rain were recorded across the district between Saturday evening and Sunday morning (July 26 and 27, 2025), with intense rains in Naduvattam, Parsons Valley, Porthimund, Avalanche, Upper Bhavani and moderate to heavy rain in parts of Gudalur and Pandalur.
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The heavy rains had led to trees becoming uprooted along the Udhagamandalam to Gudalur Road, while boulders had also become dislodged and blocked the route to Melkowhatty. The National and State Highways Departments both mobilised men to immediately clear the blockages to traffic and traffic flow was restored soon afterwards.
Power outages were also reported across many places in Udhagamandalam, Gudalur and Manjoor towns owing to the rains accompanied by heavy winds.
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On Sunday (July 27, 2025), the Nilgiris district administration urged residents in Emerald, Nehru Nagar and other areas downstream of the Avalanche dam to not venture close to rivers and streams fed by the dam waters. The sluice gates of the dam were opened on Sunday morning at around 9.30 a.m.
Last weekend, the Pykara Dam had also reached full capacity and its sluice gates were opened. The TANGEDCO officials stated that they continued to monitor the capacities of other dams in the district, including Upper Bhavani to ensure the dam’s safety.
Published – July 27, 2025 04:02 pm IST
