Idukki: Security forces carried out a thorough search of the historic Mullaperiyar dam on Monday after a bomb threat was received, raising alarms over the safety of the over-century-old structure. The email warning, reportedly threatening to blow up the reservoir, was sent to the District Collectorate in Thrissur, prompting immediate action by authorities in neighbouring Idukki district, where the dam is located.
A coordinated team of police personnel and bomb squad experts rushed to the dam site, conducting intensive inspections across the sprawling facility. “Nothing suspicious has been found so far. The inspection is still continuing,” an Idukki police officer confirmed, stressing that security measures remain in place until the area is declared completely safe.
Built in 1895, the Mullaperiyar dam has long been a source of tension between Tamil Nadu, which owns and operates the dam, and Kerala, the state where it physically stands. The current threat comes on the same day that the Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre, the Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments, and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on a public interest litigation seeking the construction of a new dam to replace the 130-year-old structure amid safety and structural stability concerns.
Authorities emphasised that public safety remains the top priority, and residents in downstream areas have been closely monitored while the inspection continues. The incident has reignited debates over the dam’s long-term safety and the urgency of a replacement project, highlighting the ongoing sensitivity surrounding one of India’s oldest reservoirs.