Berijam to be closed for tourists

DINDIGUL

Ahead of the cyclone warning, the officials from the Forest department have announced that tourists would not be permitted to Berijam near Kodaikanal for two days on April 29 and 30.

Officials of the Tourism department also said that other than Berijam, the Guna caves, Moir Point and 12 Mile Road like destinations would be closed for tourists.

In the neighbouring Theni district, following widespread rain in western ghats and in Periakulam, there has been huge flow into Kumbakarai falls. Hence, as a precautionary measure, public were prevented from entering the area for the eighth consecutive day, officials said on Saturday.

The entire machinery in the two districts has been sensitised to be on alert mode from Sunday as the change in weather pattern may bring more rains. Low-lying areas have been identified and people have been sufficiently warned to keep away from venturing into river in Theni district.

On the instructions of Theni Collector M Pallavi Baldev, the staff were given training by experts from Fire and Rescue Services and Disaster Management to remove trees and huge trunks that may fall or be uprooted from roads so that vehicular movement would not be affected.

Theni DRO S Kandasami and others oversaw the training being given to the staff at the Collectorate on Saturday, a press release said.

According to the officials, there are six municipalities, 22 town panchayats and eight panchayat unions in the district. Thus, gadgets like power saw machines among others were being given to the staff and a training programme was conducted to handle them in case of emergencies.

In Dindigul, Collector T.G. Vinay had instructed the officials to post additional staff in Kodaikanal upper hill and in tribal villages, officials said.

Similarly, inaccessible areas in the district were also identified and the TANGEDCO officials had been told to educate the people on the dos and donts in the event of heavy rainfall. The emergency ambulance services have been told to position themselves at vantage locations. The district, which faced Cyclone Gaja in November last, had some exposure in handling crisis situation and they hoped to prevent any loss of lives or cattle.

The district administration has appealed to the public to cooperate with officials and all the officials at key positions have been told to be present at the headquarters.