Kakkayam Reservoir Nears Capacity: Kozhikode on High Alert as Spillway Gates Open

A red alert remains in effect at the Kakkayam dam in Kerala’s Kozhikode district as water levels near full reservoir capacity following intense rainfall over two consecutive days. The reservoir, which forms a part of the Kuttiyadi Hydroelectric Project, is experiencing significant inflow, leading authorities to open spillway gates to release excess water safely downstream.

What Happened

Official measurements recorded at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, August 3, 2026, showed the water level at Kakkayam dam reaching 757.67 metres (2,485.8 feet). This brings the reservoir close to its Full Reservoir Level of 758.05 metres. Total storage reached 33.0672 million cubic metres, representing 97.31 percent of overall capacity. To manage the ongoing surge, engineers opened two spillway gates on Sunday, August 2, 2026. Both gates currently remain open by 0.25 feet to safely discharge water downstream into the river basin.

Key Highlights

• Red Alert Status: A red alert remains active at Kakkayam dam due to heavy water inflow.
• Current Storage Level: Water levels reached 757.67 metres, holding 33.0672 million cubic metres (97.31 percent of total capacity).
• Spillway Operations: Two spillway gates were opened on August 2 and remain raised by 0.25 feet.
• Rainfall Statistics: The Kakkayam region recorded 104 millimetres of rainfall in 24 hours, bringing cumulative rainfall since June 1 to 2,990 millimetres.
• Water Discharges and Power Generation: Over 24 hours, the reservoir received 5.9241 million cubic metres of inflow, released 0.4793 million cubic metres through spillways, and used 3.3123 million cubic metres to generate 4.6831 million units of electricity.
• Year-on-Year Comparison: Storage is higher than the same period last year, when water level was 756.21 metres and storage stood at 86.55 percent.
• Banasura Gate Status: The control shaft gate connecting from Banasura dam in Wayanad has remained completely shut since June 29 to prevent extra water from diverting into the system.

Why This Matters

Heavy rainfall in the catchment area—104 millimetres in 24 hours—pushed incoming reservoir volume to 5.9241 million cubic metres in a single day. Water discharge management at Kakkayam is necessary to maintain safe operating levels while continuing power generation under the Kuttiyadi Hydroelectric Project. The current capacity of 97.31 percent reflects a notable increase compared to last year’s 86.55 percent during the same timeframe.

What to Watch Next

District authorities continue to monitor the reservoir situation closely. Residents living along downstream riverbanks have been advised to remain alert while spillway discharges continue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current alert level at Kakkayam dam?

A red alert remains active at the dam as water levels reach near-maximum capacity.

How much water is currently in the Kakkayam reservoir?

As of 7:00 a.m. on August 3, 2026, the reservoir recorded 33.0672 million cubic metres of water, representing 97.31 percent of its total capacity.

Are spillway gates open at Kakkayam dam?

Yes, two spillway gates were opened on Sunday, August 2, 2026, and remain open by 0.25 feet to discharge water safely.

Source: Official updates reported by The Hindu.