The severe floods in Wayanad have caused significant disruptions in Mysuru, as 80,000 cusecs of water are released from the Kabini dam in HD Kote. This has led to the closure of National Highway-766, the main route connecting Mysuru to Wayanad, impacting vehicular movement between Karnataka and Kerala.
Vehicles heading to Wayanad are now being diverted to Gudalur in Tamil Nadu via Gundlupet, as the Karnataka-Kerala border town of Muthanga is submerged due to the floods. This diversion could severely impact the supply of essential commodities, such as vegetables and food grains, to Wayanad, given that Mysuru is a major supplier. The alternate route through the Bandipur Tiger Reserve is also problematic, with a ban on vehicular movement from 9 pm for nine hours, further complicating travel.
The situation is exacerbated by increased outflows from the KRS dam, which has been raised to 1.50 lakh cusecs, with a potential increase to 2 lakh cusecs. The inflow to the Kabini dam, which was 30,805 cusecs at 6 am, surged to 60,000 cusecs by 4 pm, reflecting the intense rainfall in Wayanad.
Chamarajanagar district administration is on high alert, coordinating rescue and relief efforts with Kerala authorities. A helpline has been set up for information, and medical facilities are on standby to provide assistance. Authorities urge people to avoid unnecessary travel to Kerala.