TIRUNELVELI
Northeast monsoon became active in the district on Thursday, thanks to cyclone ‘Ockhi’ that substantially increased storage level in dams.
Intermittent drizzle that started around 3 a.m. on Thursday, became incessant in the morning. Besides brief sharp showers, the drizzle occurred in almost all parts of the district.
Catchment areas of Papanasam dam experienced a rainfall of 282 mm, which resulted in an inflow of over 14,000 cusecs into the dam around 1 p.m. Later, water level touched 123 feet against its maximum capacity of 143 feet due to an inflow of 22,500 cusecs.
Similarly, the level in Manimuthar dam rose to 92 feet at 1 p.m., thanks to 281.20 mm rainfall in the catchment areas. The level crossed the 100 feet mark in the night following an inflow of 17,420 cusecs.
After water level in Servalar dam rose 148 feet against the maximum capacity of 156 feet, officials discharged 10,000 cusecs of water.
Gadana and Karuppanadhi dams reached the maximum capacity of 85 feet and 72 feet respectively on Thursday.
Bathing was banned in all waterfalls in Courtallam as Main Falls, Five Falls and Old Courtallam Falls were flowing menacingly following overnight rains on the Western Ghats. Police, who had erected metal barricades across the path leading to the waterfalls, allowed tourists to take photographs of the waterfalls from a distance.
Similar ban was imposed in Manimuthar Falls and Agasthiyar Falls. Tourists coming to ‘Thalaiyanai’ were denied entry due to floods.
The heavy downpour triggered flash floods in the Pachchaiyar and the Uppar, and Nangunerian Channel in Kalakkad area that inundated culverts at Moongiladi and Chidambarapuram. After the rainwater diverted by the check-dam near Puthu Theru entered residential areas, people of Puthu Theru and Church Street faced hardship. A few electric poles were uprooted in these areas, disrupting power supply.
An unidentified 40-year-old man was killed when a roadside tree fell on him at Alwarkurichi. Huge trees were uprooted in several parts of the district, and police and fire and rescue services personnel, ably supported by Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath and Social Democratic Party of India cadres, removed them.
Collector Sandeep Nanduri declared holiday for schools and colleges, and Manonmaniam Sundaranar University postponed semester exams scheduled for Thursday. In the evening, the Collector declared holiday for schools and colleges on Friday too.
Rainfall recorded at various places in the district was (in mm): Papanasam 282, Manimuthar dam 281.20, Tenkasi 95, Radhapuram 71, Nanguneri 44, Cheranmahadevi 43.20, Sankarankovil 38, Sivagiri 35, Tirunelveli 34.10, Palayamkottai 25 and Shencottai and Aayikudi 5 each.
