Even as Kanniyakumari and Thoothukudi districts experienced heavy rain for the second day on Thursday due to cyclone Maha in Arabian Sea, the cyclonic activity-triggered showers spared Tirunelveli.
The north-east monsoon that brought good rainfall on Wednesday let down the district within 24 hours. While a few places recorded decent rainfall, other places experienced only drizzle.
The monsoon, that moved to top gear on Wednesday thanks to cyclonic activity off Kanniyakumari coast, nosedived on Thursday. The sudden fall in rainfall led to drop in flow of water into reservoirs like Papanasam and Manimuthar dams. The Papanasam Dam, which was receiving over 6,000 cusecs of water on Wednesday, following 14 cm rainfall in catchment areas, was getting 4,800 cusecs of water on Thursday.
The water level in the dam, which rose from 113 feet on Tuesday to 120 feet in the next 24 hours, recorded only five feet increase from 120 feet to 125 feet on Thursday.
Flood which continued in all waterfalls at Courtallam thanks to incessant drizzle along the Western Ghats kept visitors away on Thursday also. The water flowing from all waterfalls at Courtallam is increasing storage level in all irrigation tanks under the Chittaar Irrigation System. Farmers have commenced preparatory work for ‘pisanam’ paddy cultivation.
“Since irrigation tanks have decent storage level and most of them in Courtallam, Tenkasi, Paavoorchathram and Surandai areas are overflowing, this season will be profitable. If the active monsoon continues, we can go in for onion cultivation after harvesting paddy in February,” said farmer N. Subramanian of Surandai.
Rainfall (in mm): Nanguneri – 83, Shencottai and Radhapuram – 51, Papanasam Dam – 42, Cheranmahadevi – 39.60, Palayamkottai – 34, Sivagiri – 31, Ambasamudram – 28.80, Manimuthar Dam – 27.80, Tirunelveli – 25, Tenkasi – 19.20, Aayikudi – 18.60 and Sankarankovil – 15.
Thoothukudi district witnessed widespread rainfall on Thursday. Though the corporation was trying to pump out stagnant rainwater, the rain that continued till noon thwarted its attempts. As the rain eased after noon, the corporation deployed more men and material to drain stagnant water.
Intermittent showers that started on Tuesday continued on Thursday prompting Collector Sandeep Nanduri to declare holiday for schools and the colleges on Thursday. Residential areas like Lourdhammalpuram, Ganesapuram, Meelavittaan, Chinnakannupuram, VMS Nagar were marooned.
Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi took steps to drain water from Chinnakannupuram and VMS Nagar with the help of heavy equipments into Buckle Channel. Officials said the recent rain has damaged 95 houses partly and 16 houses fully in the district.
Rainfall: Kaayalpattinam – 106, Kaadalkudi – 86, Vilaaththikulam – 69, Kulasekarapattinam – 68, Thoothukudi – 52.90 Vaipaar – 51, Ettaiyapuram – 48, Tiruchendur – 46, Sattankulam – 43.80, Kayathar – 38, Ottapidaaram – 37, Kovilpatti – 35, Soorankudi – 33, Kadambur – 31, Vedanaththam – 30, Srivaikundam – 29.30, Keezha Arasadi – 22, Maniyaachi – 20 and Kazhugumalai – 19.
Kanniyakumari that experienced heavy downpour since Wednesday continued to get showers on Thursday. Collector Prashant M. Wadnere declared holiday for all schools and colleges on Thursday. The downpour has submerged paddy crops cultivated in several parts of the district.
Since the Petchipaarai (48 feet) and Perunchaani (77 feet) dams are getting decent inflow of water of 2,634 cusecs and 2,534 cusecs respectively, the reservoirs are likely to reach the maximum capacity within the next few days. Considering safety of the Perunchaani dam, which has water for about 70 feet, 4,000 cusecs of water is being discharged. The Mukkadal dam has reached its maximum capacity of 25 feet.
The rain has damaged 3 houses fully and 20 houses partly.
Rainfall in the district (in mm): Mayilaadi – 117, Nagercoil – 111, Chittar I and Perunchaani – 103, Kuzhithurai – 102, Puthen Dam – 101, Kozhiporevilai – 96, Maambazhathuraiyar – 95, Aanaikidangu – 94, Petchipaarai – 92, Kottaaram – 89, Surulacode and Chittar II – 82, Kannimar – 81, Boothapandi – 79, Balamore – 78, Kurunthancode – 69, Mukkadal and Mullankinaavilai - 68 Adaiyaamadai – 66, Kaliyal – 32, Eraniel – 14 and Thuckalay – 12.
