Rain batters southern dists

In the past 24 hours, Manimuthar in Tirunelveli district recorded the maximum amount of rainfall at 29 cm while Sathankulam recorded 22 cm.

The downpour along the Western Ghats left the ‘Five falls,’ ‘Main falls’ and ‘Old falls’ in Courtallam of Tirunelveli district, out of bounds for tourists, as the authorities imposed ban on bathing since Saturday morning. It rained considerably and the catchment areas recorded 286 mm in Manimuthar dam, 160 mm in Papanasam dam, 125 mm in Nambiyaru and 50 mm in Kodumuiyaru. The check-dam at Tamilakurichi across Pachaiyar River in the district overflowed due to copious rain, sources said.

It rained heavily for nearly two hours in Thoothukudi forcing the administration to declare a holiday for schools. As electricity consumption came down, power generation from one of the five units of Tuticorin Thermal Power Station was suspended. Normally, peak demand of electricity would touch 14,000 MW and odd by this time in Tamil Nadu, but it has been reduced to around 13,000 MW now, sources said. 

Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Department (RMD) has warned heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over South Tamil Nadu. While North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Lakshadweep and Kerala are likely to experience heavy rains in the next 24 hours. For the next two days, thunderstorm with lightning is likely to occur at isolated places over Tamil Nadu.

In this context, fishermen have been advised not to venture into Central parts of the South Bay of Bengal from November 6 onwards. Chennai city will experience light to moderate rain or thundershowers.

“A low-pressure area runs from Maldives to South Konkan. A cyclonic circulation over South Tamil Nadu and adjoining Comorin area now lies over Maldives and adjoining Lakshadweep. A trough of low at mean sea level lies over South Andaman Sea and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal,” said the deputy director general of Meteorology S Balachandran.

However, in Kanniyakumari district, most of the fishermen ventured into sea as usual on rainy Saturday. A wind velocity of 50 per nautical mile was reported. The Meteorological Department said restrictions on fishing may follow once a depression which is likely to form over the Central Bay of Bengal on November 6 intensifies.