Heavy rain that lashed for three hours on Wednesday night and the drizzle that followed left several areas in the district marooned.
Rainwater surrounded about 700 houses in Manakaavalanpillai Nagar, Kakkan Nagar, Shanthi Nagar and Rahmath Nagar in Palayamkottai. Water entered several houses constructed on what was previously a pond. Demanding action to drain the rainwater, the residents blocked Tuticorin highway on Wednesday night. They were pacified by police, revenue and Corporation officials. The water was drained through storm water channel using heavy equipment. However, owing to the overnight drizzle, water stagnated at Manakaavalanpillai Nagar on Thursday also.
As V.M. Chathiram tank overflowed, the neighbouring areas were marooned. Collector M. Karunakaran and Mayor E. Bhuvaneshwari took steps to relocate the people in a marriage hall where food was served. A doctor was posted there.
Reason
“Since five shops were constructed on government poramboke land through which the surplus water flowed into the next tank, our area was marooned,” said a resident.
As a low-level causeway that connected Gangaikondan with 30 villages was inundated, vehicular traffic remained cut off. A temporary structure near Manimurtheeswaram was washed away. Since Aatkondaarkulam near Sankarankoil is overflowing, water surrounded 50 houses. As the shutters of Ariyakulam could not be operated, surplus water was released by making a breach. All falls at Courtallam experienced flood since Wednesday night and tourists were allowed to take bath from Thursday noon.
Houses damaged
Two houses at Velayuthapuram near Kadayanallur and compound wall of a house at Attaikulam were damaged. Two houses suffered extensive damage in Kottai Street in Kalakkad.
Rainfall (in mm): Sankarankoil 139, Radhapuram 104, Palayamkottai 102, Aayikudi 100, Karuppanadhi dam 77, Adavinainar dam 70, Sivagiri 57.20, Tenkasi 56.20, Ramanadhi dam 54, Shencottai 43, Gundar dam 42.20, Tirunelveli 40, Nambiyar dam 29, Papanasam dam 20, Nanguneri 14, Cheranmahadevi 10, Servalar dam 7, Ambasamudram 4.20 and Manimuthar dam 3.80.
Water level in dams (Maximum capacity in feet within brackets): Papanasam 105.85 (143); Servalar 119.09 (156); Manimuthar 77.40 (118); Gadana 83.30 (85); Ramanadhi 82 (84); Karuppanadhi 70.27 (72); Gundar 36.10 (36.10); Adavinainar 127.25 (142); Vadakku Pachchaiyar 35.25 (67); Kodumudiyar 43 (57); and Nambiyar 22.11 (25).
