he Tamirabharani is in spate once again since Sunday night as a huge quantum of surplus water from Papanasam and Servalar dams is being discharged following downpour in the catchment areas of these prime reservoirs of the district.
After heavy rain lashed catchment areas of Papanasam and Servalar dams on Sunday, the entire influx of over 10,000 cusecs of water from the already brimming reservoirs was discharged, triggering flood in the Tamirabharani. As the huge discharge from the dam submerged the Mundanthurai steel bridge, bus service to Papanasam dam was stopped on Sunday evening. However, the services were restored on Monday morning while tourists were not allowed to enter Kalakkad – Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve where the dam is located.
Though the discharge from the dams was reduced to 6,000 cusecs on Monday, sudden rain in the Western Ghats after 4 p.m. forced the officials to release more water from the dam depending upon the influx. The flood inundated the low-level bridges at Cheranmahadevi and Karuppanthurai and affected vehicular traffic for a while.
While appealing to the public living close to the Tamirabharani to move to safety, the Tirunelveli Corporation has opened relief centres at 10 places in Thatchanallur and Melapalayam zones. Mayor E. Bhuvaneshwari and Corporation Commissioner S. Sivasubramanian visited vulnerable areas near the river on Monday and asked the people to be on the alert.
Since decades-old encroachments at Kailaasapuram in Tirunelveli were removed three years ago, protests usually staged by flood-affected people and distribution of relief materials at a school or community hall has become a thing of the past.
Meanwhile, water level in Manimuthar dam has risen to 103.85 feet following a heavy inflow of 6,480 cusecs.
Rainfall recorded in the district was (in mm): Papanasam dam 129, Servalar dam 69, Manimuthar dam 39, Ambasamudram 35.40, Gadana dam 25, Shencottai 23, Ramanadhi 22, Gundar dam 21, Karuppanadhi dam 16, Aayikudi 15, Sankarankoil 11.50, Cheranmahadevi 11, Alangulam 10.60, Nanguneri 9, Tenkasi 7.80, Kodumudiyar dam 7, Palayamkottai 6, Adavinaiar dam 4, Tirunelveli 3 and Nambiyar dam 2.
Water level in dams (Maximum capacity in feet in brackets): Papanasam 142.10 (143); Servalar 148.03 (156); Manimuthar 103.85 (118); Gadana 83.75 (85); Ramanadhi 82.75 (84); Karuppanadhi 70.65 (72); Gundar 36.10 (36.10); Adavinainar 131.45 (132); Vadakku Pachchaiyar 46 (67); Kodumudiyar 56.35 (57) and Nambiyar 23.45 (25).
Sudden rain in the Western Ghats after 4 p.m. forced the officials to release more water from the dam
