The gates of Idukki dam on the Periyar river were opened by the local authorities in Kerala to ease the pressure on the structure in the wake of heavy rainfall in the southern state. This is the fourth time that the shutters of Asia's largest arc dam have been opened. The shutters of the Kaki Ananthodu Dam in Pathanamthitta district were opened on Monday. The heavy rainfall triggered landslides in many place; four houses were washed away in one such landslide at Kokkayar in Peerumedu village in Idukki district. Idukki district authorities said the Navy, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire force personnel and others have been engaged in rescue operations at Kokkayar and other regions.

Source: The Local January 01, 1970 00:00 UTC