Cyclone Mandous fills Tirumala reservoirs

TIRUPATI: Heavy rains brought in by Cyclone Mandous have filled reservoirs of Tirumala to nearly their full capacity. The water levels reached in all five dams are sufficient to meet the requirements of the hill town for over 300 days, officials of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) disclosed.

In the last 24 hours ending 8:30 a.m., rainfall recorded at Papavinasanam Dam has been 255.9 mm. The current water level at Papavinasanam, the biggest of all Tirumala’s projects is 697.14 metres as against its full capacity of 695.80 metres. TTD authorities have partially opened the floodgates of the dam and are releasing water downstream.

Akasaganga Dam received 128 mm rainfall. Its water level has reached 860.45 metres against its full capacity of 865 metres. Gogarbham Dam witnessed 210 mm rainfall. As a result, it has 2,889.10 lakh gallons of water against its full capacity of 2,894 lakh gallons. Remaining twin dams of Kumaradhara and Pasupudhara received 175 mm rainfall each. Their water levels are 897.62 metres and 898.24 metres respectively against each of their full capacity of 898.24 metres.

Following the rains, devasthanam authorities have suspended movement of two-wheelers on the first and second ghat roads of Tirumala and roads leading to Papavinasanam and Silathoranam, as these are prone to landslides. TTD personnel are removing trees that have fallen due to heavy winds.

Owing to the heavy rains, water is gushing down Malwadi Gundam and Kapilatheertham falls, providing a visual feast to devotees and locals, who are flocking to the two spots. Due to the volume of water cascading down the hills, authorities restricted access of pilgrims to Kapilatheertham Temple for some time.