In Kerala, three shutters of Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki Hydro-Electric Project were opened today, releasing one lakh litres of water per second from the Idukki reservoir. The shutters were opened at different intervals after assessing the water flow along downstream areas. The entire process took about one and a half hours to complete.<br />''<br />''The Idukki dam is in a state of red alert with the water level reaching 2,398 feet as against its full reservoir level of 2,403 feet. The aim is to keep the water level in the reservoir at 2,395 feet.<br />''<br />''Water discharged from Idukki and Edamalayar joins Periyar river, following which water level in the river is expected to rise by about one metre. People staying along the banks of the river have been shifted to safer places. The river winds itself through several villages and towns,  before emptying itself in the Arabian Sea near Kochi.<br />''<br />''Meanwhile, two companies of the NDRF have been deployed in the highly populated areas of Paravur and Aluva in Ernakulam district.<br />''Besides Idukki, water was released from Pampa Dam in Pathanamthitta and Edamalayar Dam in Ernakulam this morning.<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">As more rain is predicted during the days ahead, water is being released to regulate the reservoir levels and to avoid opening of the shutters at short notice.</span><br />