After tremor, cracks in Mullaperiyar dam

KOCHI: Minor cracks were found on the upper surface of the Mullaperiayar dam which were suspected to be occurred after a low-intensity tremor of magnitude 2.3 on the Richter scale rocked several parts of the Idukki district on Friday Morning.According to dam officials, the cracks were noticed when an inspection was carried out on Friday afternoon. “We are not sure that the cracks occurred as a result of the tremor. Since the water level is high such mild tremors can create cracks in the dam. But the situation is not grave. A tremor of more than 4 magnitude on the Richter scale only can cause damage to the dam. We will carry out checking and inform the government about it” an official at the Mullaperiayar dam informed.Mild tremors felt in Kottayam districtKottayam: Mild tremors measuring 3.1 on the Ritcher scale were felt in some areas of the district on Friday, according to MET sources. Erattupetta, Wagamon, Poonjar and Vazhikkadavu were the areas where the tremors were felt after it hit Idukki district. It was a pre-dawn shock for the people who ran out of their homes as mild tremors shook some areas of the district. The epicentre of the tremor is near Erattayar Dam in Idukki district.There were no reports of any casualty, the sources said.