Many parts inundated as Vellore district gets 512 mm rain

While PWD officials refuted rumours of an irrigation tank breach in Jolorpet, officials revealed that Gudiyattam received 93 mm rainfall followed by Melalathur with 89.4 mm rainfall, Tirupathur with 47.3 mm, Arrakkonam recorded with 62.6 mm and Vellore with 37.8 mm.

This led to low lying areas in Gudiyattam and Vellore being inundated. Kansalpet in Vellore, which was flooded a few days ago and re-lieved with the help of earth moving equipment, was again inundated by Wednesday night’s rain. 

With the Palar river in spate, officials warned residents in low lying areas on the river banks to move to higher ground. While the Mordhana reservoir in Vellore district was surplussing, Sathanur dam received good inflows resulting in the water level touching 117 feet against the FTL (Full Tank Level) of 119 feet. 

Following official warning about the proposed release of water from the dam for irrigation in Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore and Villupuram districts through the left and right bank canals, HR&CE minister Sevoor S Ramachandran opened the shutters for irrigation on Wednesday. 

Though rules prevent construction or raising crops on the river bed, an acre of 8,000 saplings nursery raised with Natrampalli panchayat union funds at Kodayanji, near Vaniyambadi, was submerged resulting in a loss of Rs 25 lakh.