Sharp showers rocked Theni and nearby areas, flooding old central bus stand and also Madurai-Theni Highway and raising storage level in Sothuparai dam on Monday.
Routine life was paralysed in Theni as rainwater along with drainage water flooded Theni old bus stand and Theni-Madurai Highway. Nehru statue junction before the central bus stand was almost inundated. Pedestrians and two-wheelers rider had been wading through floodwater on Madurai, Cumbum and Periyakulam highways.
Level up
Storage level rose from 78 feet to 84 feet in Sothuparai dam, thanks to the heavy downpour on Kodaikanal hill. The dam had an inflow of 10 cusecs and a discharge of three cusecs.
The entire Western Ghats bordering Theni and Idukki districts experienced moderate to heavy rainfall since morning. Thekkadi recorded 16 mm rainfall.
Even as early onset of summer showers brightened hopes of farmers in rain-fed areas, paddy growers in Cumbum valley were a worried lot as harvesting of second crop on 47,000 acres commenced recently. The rain would affect the quality of paddy, leading to a deep fall in procurement price.
The farmers in the valley have expedited harvesting paddy, using harvesting machines. However, summer rain would be beneficial to horticulture crops and long-term and perennial crops.
Some parts of Dindigul received minor showers in the afternoon.
Kanyakumari
Though many parts of Kanyakumari district experienced intermittent rain, the catchment areas of dams received good rainfall.
The western parts of Kanyakumari district such as Boothapandi, Puthan Anai, Surulode, Kannimar, Thuckalay and Kulasekaram experienced heavy rainfall on Sunday evening. Balamore area experienced drizzling.
The water level in Perunchani dam touched 60 feet against its total height of 77 feet. The level in Pechiparai stood at 28.25 feet.
Rainfall recorded in various places was (in mm): Pechiparai – 34.8, Perunchani – 40, Chitrar I – 18.4, Chitrar II – 22, Anaikidangu – 6, Puthananai – 38.2, Tirparappu – 18.2, Boothapandi – 11.5, Surulode – 32, Kannimar – 1.4, Aralvoimozhi – 2.4 and Balamore – 15, PWD sources said here on Monday.
