Rain accompanied by thunder lashed many places in Kanyakumari district on Wednesday night for over two hours increasing the water level in many waterbodies, including over 2,000 ponds, across the district.
Puthan Anai area received a maximum of 89.2 mm rainfall. Water stagnated in low-lying areas and roads were flooded with rainwater in Nagercoil and neighbouring areas.
Widespread rain was reported in Kozhiporvilai, Anaikidangu, Kottaram, Surulode, Mayiladi, Adayamadai and Nagercoil.
The catchment areas of dams such as Balamore, Pechiparai and Perunchani received good rainfall.
Water level in Pechiparai dam stood at 40.45 feet as against its full level of 48 feet for the past two days. Inflow into the dam was 304 cusecs and the discharge in Thovalai channel was 216 cusecs. Water released from Pechiparai reached Nilaparai area on Thursday morning.
The level in Perunchani dam had increased to 73 feet (full capacity 77 feet) and with an inflow of 404 cusecs.
Officials are monitoring the situation. If the inflow increases further, water will be released into Kuzhithurai river. People living on the banks of Kuzhithurai river had been asked to move to safer places.
Water level in Chittar I stood at 17.22 feet and level in Chittar II was 17.32 feet. The entire inflow was discharged from these two dams, an official from Water Resources Organisation said.
Rainfall
Rainfall registered at various places is (in mm): Puthan Anai – 89.2, Perunchani – 88.6, Surulode – 70.4, Adayamadai – 67, Chittar I – 54.3, Kozhiporvilai – 50.5, Anaikidangu – 25, Chittar I – 16.8, Boothapandi – 16, Mayiladi – 14.2, Balamore – 13.5, Kottaram – 13.2, Pechiparai – 11 and Mullanginavilai – 7.
Executive Engineer, WRO, S.K. Subramani told The Hindu that the department was maintaining a 24-hour vigil on all waterbodies. Sand bags and other flood control and relief materials had been kept ready in field offices to plug breaches.
Revenue, Fire and Rescue Services and police department personnel are also put on high alert to meet any eventuality. Ire service personnel conducted mock drills on saving lives.
Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan convened a coordination meeting of officials a few days ago and instructed them to brace themselves for the monsoon.
Dindigul
Sharp showers rocked Dindigul and nearby areas on Thursday bringing mercury level down. Moderate showers were recorded in other parts of the district in the afternoon.
Climate remained cool and the sky was overcast in the evening.
Theni
Moderate to heavy showers rocked Uthamapalayam and Theni blocks in the district, cheering farmers in Cumbum valley.
Virudhunagar
Many parts of Virudhunagar received heavy rainfall which was accompanied by hail. Jubilant residents in many areas took photographs of the small pieces of ice which were on the roads.
Madurai
Rain continued for the third consecutive day in Madurai with many parts of the city receiving heavy showers in the evening of Thursday.
Despite the average temperature hovering between 37 and 38 degrees Celsius in the last few days, it remained hot and humid. Overcast skies in the afternoons gave way to heavy showers.
On Tuesday, the city recorded one of the heaviest spell of 50 mm rain. Though Wednesday was hot with a daytime temperature of over 37 degrees, many parts of the city received showers after 7 p.m.
Heavy showers began at 4 p.m. in the city on Thursday. Many low-lying areas were inundated as the rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, for an hour. Traffic snarls were experienced in many busy parts of the city owing to water-logged roads.
