Heads up! Flood warning in Tamil Nadu (11 districts) because Mettur Dam is almost full.

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India – August 18, 2025:Big flood warning for 11 districts in Tamil Nadu because a lot more water is coming from dams in Karnataka. The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) sent out the alert on Monday, telling anyone near rivers or in low areas to get out quick. Mettur Dam, which is super important for the state, is getting close to its max of 120 feet because of all the water flowing in from the Cauvery River area.

What’s going on?

Basically, it’s raining a ton where the water for the Karnataka dams comes from. The Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam and the Kabini dam are dumping water into the Cauvery River—like, 95,000 cusecs! That’s why Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu is filling up so fast.

As of Monday, Mettur Dam was at 117.56 feet. It’s going to be totally full very soon if water keeps flowing in like this.

Which areas are in danger?

A bunch of districts that are near the Cauvery River are under flood warning. These are the 11: Salem, Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Ariyalur, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Cuddalore.

If you live in these areas, especially near the river or in a low spot, get ready. Local folks are spreading the word.

What’s the government doing?

The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) is on it. They had a meeting Monday morning to figure out what to do. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are ready to go.

District leaders in those 11 districts have set up control rooms that are open all day and night to watch the water levels and help with rescues. They’re also finding places for people to stay if they have to leave their houses.

What about the water coming out of Mettur Dam?

The WRD is letting more water out of Mettur Dam to deal with the rising levels. As of Monday, they were sending 35,000 cusecs into the Cauvery River for farming, which is up from 22,000 cusecs on Sunday.

Officials said once the dam is totally full, they’ll have to let out all the extra water coming in. That could be 50,000 to 70,000 cusecs, or possibly even more. This could cause major flooding downstream.

How will this affect farmers and fishermen?

This is tricky for farmers. A full dam is good for watering crops, but too much water all at once can ruin them. Farmers in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur are growing rice, and their fields could get flooded.

Fishermen are also in trouble because the high water makes fishing risky. Local leaders are warning them and trying to find other solutions for them.

What’s the big picture?

This shows how connected everything is around the Cauvery River. What happens with water in Karnataka directly affects Tamil Nadu. This often leads to problems, especially when there’s too much or not enough rain.

This situation shows why the two states need to work together on a long-term plan for managing dams and water releases.

What should people do?

The TNSDMA has some tips for residents. If you’re in a low area, move to higher ground right away. Turn off all electrical stuff, including the main power. Don’t drive or park on low bridges.

Listen to the local authorities and emergency workers. The government is also putting out info on safety and where to find help through the news and other channels.

Reported by: Herohind News Desk