Close on the heels of the landslides and deluge in Wayanad that claimed more than 400 lives and devoured 300 houses, a disaster of higher magnitude is all set to befall on the State of Kerala.
The Mullaperiyar dam built across River Periyar and dating back to 130 years is on the verge of collapse and this will wipe out the entire population in five districts of the State. Though the dam is situated in Kerala, the entire water in the catchment area is drawn by Tamil Nadu which shouts from all rooftops that Mullaperiyar dam is safe. But experts in dam construction and safety disagree.
Though Tungabhadra dam is in Karnataka, the news that one of its gates getting washed away because of the snapping of the chain link by the floodwaters has jolted people in five districts of Kerala. Tungabhadra dam built in 1953 and Mullaperiyar in Kerala, built 130 years ago have a lot of similarities. Both are built with a combination of surki, mortar, mud and limestone making them the last surviving non-cement dams in India.