The sudden release of 1.8 lakh cusecs of water from the Sathanur Dam in Tiruvannamalai district late Sunday night caused severe flooding in villages along the Thenpennai river in Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, and Cuddalore districts. While the Tamil Nadu government maintains that it followed standard operating procedures (SOPs) and issued timely alerts, on-ground reports highlight significant lapses in communication, leaving residents to fend for themselves in many cases.
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Residents of several affected villages, including Puthur Chekkadi, Rayandapuram, Thiruvathanur, and Kolamajanur, reported receiving either insufficient warnings or no alerts at all. Villagers told The New Indian Express (TNIE) that the lack of clear instructions and specific details about the potential flood levels caused chaos and preventable losses.
A resident of Puthur Chekkadi told TNIE that only a few villagers received SMS alerts from the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority, and those messages arrived late on Monday morning—after the flooding had already begun. The alert simply stated, “Water is being released from Sathanur Dam. People living on the banks of Thenpennai river are advised to move to safer places.”
The warnings that were issued often lacked critical details, such as the expected flood levels or specific instructions about evacuation to relief shelters.
In certain areas, residents relied on personal networks and local announcements to understand the urgency of the situation, as official communication failed to reach them in time. The absence of clear instructions resulted in delayed evacuations, leaving people scrambling to protect their families and possessions during the worst of the flooding.
The sudden flooding caused extensive damage to property and significant losses of livestock, which forms a primary source of livelihood for many families. Residents expressed frustration that earlier and clearer warnings could have helped them mitigate some of these losses, particularly the loss of cattle.
Residents of Rayandapuram echoed similar grievances, stating that while warnings were issued between 25 November 2024 and 30 November 2024, they lacked specific details about the extent of flooding or instructions to move to designated relief shelters. Another resident added that despite experiencing heavy rains on Sunday, 1 December 2024, no one anticipated the release of such a massive quantity of water early Monday morning (2 December 2024).
In Thiruvathanur, residents relied on loudspeaker announcements from a local mosque to evacuate. Kolamajanur Panchayat residents and villagers in Arakandanallur, Devanur, and Thirukovilur in Villupuram district similarly complained of inadequate communication. In Thirukovilur, flood warnings were issued through vans equipped with loudspeakers that passed along main roads. Villages further from main roads reported missing out on mobile alerts and announcements made by vehicles equipped with loudspeakers. In some areas, warnings were issued several days before the release but were treated as routine during the monsoon season, leading to complacency among residents. Others received alerts on the day of the water release but without enough time to prepare or evacuate safely.
Officials from the Water Resources Department (WRD) defended their actions, stating that alerts were issued as early as 25 November 2024. Regarding the massive water release on Monday, an Assistant Engineer at Sathanur Dam said the revenue department was informed by 2:30 AM on Monday, 2 December 2024.
Government officials followed all necessary protocols, including issuing early alerts to the revenue department. However, there were acknowledged gaps in ensuring this information reached every affected community.
Forest Minister K. Ponmudy attributed the damage to unprecedented rainfall, stating that the government took all possible precautions. Tiruvannamalai Collector D. Baskarapandian highlighted that timely evacuation efforts avoided loss of life, though material losses were substantial.
Residents noted that this was the worst flooding they had ever experienced, with elderly villagers comparing it to a similar disaster in the early 1970s.
The flooding has sparked political criticism, with questions about the adequacy of the state’s disaster management protocols and the effectiveness of communication systems.
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