cut open a dam which had been erected across the river for agricultural purposes. Torrent of water came downstream and washed away war materials and moistened the gunpowder meant for the cannons and artilleries . There was heavy casualties on the Mysore army that they found themselves in utter confusion. In the meantime East India company along with its Travancore contingent fought in Coimbatore and was successful in taking down the forts. English company also attacked Srirangapattanam and Bangalore with the aid of Nawab of Arcot and Marathas. The Company declared war on the Sultan in May 1790. This was the beginning of the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Hearing the Information that the British army was planning an attack on Srirangapatnam he started retreating from Travancore. On 24 May 1790 Tippu Sultan marched back to save his kingdom on 24 May 1790. See also Mysore invasion of Kerala Mysorean invasion of Malabar Sources 1. Valath, V.,V., K., Keralathile sthalacharithrangal – Thrissur Jilla(in Malayalam), Kerala Sahitya academy 1981. 2. Kerala Charitradharakal (Historical Documents) by Naduvattam Gopalakrishnan, pp. 84–89. 3. Thiruvithamkur Charitram (Travancore History) by P. Sankunni Menon, p. 161. 4. Kerala Charitram (Kerala History) by A. Sreedhara Menon, p. 55. 5. Malabar Manual by William Logan, p. 455. References External links Nedumkotta History of Kerala Kingdom of Travancore Mysorean invasion of Malabar Forts in Kerala