October 21, 2025

Get ready for some watery drama from Tamil Nadu! The Stanley Reservoir at Mettur in Salem district just couldn’t hold anymore. On Monday, October 20, 2025, this giant dam hit its full reservoir level (FRL) of 120 feet – not for the first time, but the seventh time this year! This means the dam’s tank is full to the brim. And what happens when the tank overflows? A whopping 30,000 cusecs of surplus water is let loose into the mighty Cauvery river. Heavy rains in Karnataka’s catchment areas have been a blessing and a curse—very good for refilling water stores but risky too. Thanks to those rains, a huge amount of water flowed into the dam. After reaching that full level, officials cranked up the discharge to 20,000 cusecs flowing out via the dam’s powerhouse and tunnel powerhouse. To keep things steady, they’ve also asked the staff at downstream barrages to keep the flow exactly at this level without any changes. Meanwhile, irrigation continues smoothly with 500 cusecs flowing through the east and west bank canals, helping farmers get water for their fields. Here's a snapshot from Tuesday morning, October 21 at 8 a.m.: inflow at a rushing 30,500 cusecs, water still steady at the full 120 feet mark, and storage maxed out at 93.47 tmc ft – the reservoir’s top capacity. The total discharge is split like this: 22,300 cusecs released from powerhouses and 7,700 cusecs through 16-vent Ellis Saddle surplus sluices. That’s a lot of water streaming downstream! But with great water comes great caution. Officials issued a flood alert across 11 districts in the Cauvery delta region. They warn people living in low-lying areas to shift to safer spots immediately. Safety first! So, while the rains have filled the dam and watered the lands of Tamil Nadu, the authorities are on high alert, balancing water needs and safety like true experts. Keep an eye on updates and stay safe, friends!

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Tags: Stanley reservoir, Mettur dam, Cauvery river, Water discharge, Flood alert, Tamil nadu,