Rain pounds 3 south dists, fills up dams

Heavy rain lashed parts of Western Ghats including Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar districts, since Friday night. The rain also triggered floods in Moola Vaigai river of Theni district after a decade. The heavy rain in Theni led to the death of a horse and twenty poultry birds and caused damages to two houses at Vaaliparai in Andipatti taluk, sources said on Saturday.

According to Kodaikanal District Forest Officer SN Thejaswi, there was a considerable amount of rain in the lower Palani region. Over the last two days, the flow was manageable in Kumbakarai falls, he said adding, the Eco Tourism committee is currently contemplating whether to allow tourists in the coming days.

The neighbouring districts of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi also witnessed downpour in several pockets through the night of Saturday. Around 100 mm of downpour in Palayamkottai, 100.20 mm in Cheranmahadevi, 83 mm in Tirunelveli and 53 mm in Radhapuram was recorded. The rain in catchment areas was about 43 mm in Papanasam and 47 mm in Manimuthar. However, the incessant rain did not cause much of damage but only left some houses in low lying areas of Ramayanpatti, Karaiyiruppu and Naduvakurichi inundated.

As for Courtallam near Tenkasi, bathing was restricted for tourists in the ‘main falls’ since morning owing to the heavy downpour, but the restriction was lifted at about 1 pm, after the rain subsided, sources said.

In Thoothukudi, the overnight rain of 33 mm caused water logging in low lying areas and salt pans. Some schools declared holiday on Saturday following the downpour. Some pockets of Tiruchendur, Kulasekarapattinam and Sathankulam received copious amounts of rain, sources said.

In Theni, as the flow in Moola Vaigai river was at 9,000 cusecs, the district administration geared into action and took precautionary measures in public interest. Those residing on the riverbanks were told to remain alert and safe, they cautioned the public against going near the flooded river. The catchment areas of Sothuparai received 50 mm and 12.2 mm in Vaigai dam. While Periyakulam experienced 26.8 mm of rain, Bodinayakanur received 24.6 mm.

The water level in Vaigai dam (full reservoir capacity 71 feet) stood at 59.78 ft with an inflow of 3680 cusecs and outflow of 2090 cusecs. The level in Periyar dam (142 ft) was up at 127.50 ft with an inflow of 4581 cusecs and discharge of 1550 cusecs. Water level in Sanmuganathi dam (52.55 ft) was almost to the maximum with 52.50 ft. The level in Manjalar dam (57 ft) rose to 53.90 ft, recording an inflow of 31 cusecs and discharge of 100 cusecs, sources said.

Meanwhile, in Virudhunagar district, a low level bridge at Govindhamedu in Watrap, was flooded for some hours on Saturday following rainfall since Friday night. Sivakasi Sub Collector Dinesh said that there was a minor breach of water from Pilavakkal dam since there was a considerable amount of inflow in the dam, it suffered breach. The dam had an inflow of 6000 cusecs. However, normalcy in the stretch was restored and opened for vehicular traffic at around 2 pm, he said.