Heavy rain and the consequent flooding of low-lying areas forced the district administration to evacuate residents, mostly tribal people, of three settlements near Gudalur on Monday night.
Speaking to The Hindu here on Tuesday, The Nilgiris Collector P.Sankar said that owing to a river overflowing, storm water had flooded the tribal settlements at Thenvayal, Iruvayal and Mudumalai.
On being informed, rescue teams rushed to the spot and shifted the residents.
Pointing out that 27 families comprising 111 members including 42 women and 43 children were evacuated, he said that those from Thenvayal were taken to the Government Higher Secondary School in Puthurvayal and those from Iruvayal and Mudumalai taken to the Government Tribal Middle School in Thorappalli.
All of them were provided with food and blankets.
Though the rainfall was lower on Tuesday and the flood water has receded, the evacuees will be kept in the shelters till Wednesday morning. Mr.Sankar said that the rain damage is in the process of being assessed. Relief would be provided as per government rules.
During the 24-hour period ending 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday, Gudalur had recorded 54 mm of rainfall, Naduvattam: 48, Devala: 83, Upper Bhavani: 54 and Avalanche: 65.
