A stream in spate washed away number of vehicles at Coonoor during the small hours of Sunday. The flood was triggered by heavy rains. Though the exact number of vehicles which were washed away is not known, residents claimed that about 36 vehicles, including cars, autorickshaws and two wheelers have been taken away by the gushing storm water.
Stating that the claims were in the process of being verified, Nilgiris Collector P. Sankar who supervised the recovery and relief operations told The Hindu that precautionary measures, like forming medical teams, have been taken. He added that Coonoor had recorded 88 mm of rainfall within about three hours from 1 a.m. As a result of the torrential rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, storm water gushed down with broken trees, bamboo etc. which made the waterway, known for long as the Krishnapuram stream, overflow.
Fortunately, there was no loss of life though the storm water entered about 15 houses located close to the stream. Owing to the heavy rainfall a few minor landslips occurred on the Ooty-Coonoor National Highway and a retaining wall collapsed at Ottupatrai.
Meanwhile, the United Planters Association of Southern India-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (UPASI-KVK) said that the rainfall recorded at Coonoor during the 24 hour period ending 8.30 a.m. on Sunday was 125 mm.
