Situation eases in southern districts

Not much rainfall in the catchment areas of the Mullaperiyar and Vaigai dams in the last 24 hours

August 19, 2018 12:02 am | Updated 12:02 am IST -

Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 18/08/2018.
Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, accompanied by Theni District Collector M Pallavi Baldev, inspecting the damages, caused due to landslide on the Kumuli stretch following recent rains, on Saturday. Photo,  special arrangement

Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 18/08/2018.
 Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, accompanied by Theni District Collector M Pallavi Baldev, inspecting the damages, caused due to landslide on the Kumuli stretch following recent rains, on Saturday. Photo, special arrangement

Barring brief drizzles and mild showers along a few stretches of the Western Ghats, a dry spell prevailed in towns across the southern districts of the State on Saturday.

There was not much rainfall in the catchment areas of the Mullaperiyar and Vaigai dams in the last 24 hours ending 6 a.m. on Saturday, officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) said. The water level at the Mullaperiyar dam stood at 141.15 ft (as against the permissible level of 142 ft), while at the Vaigai dam, it was 67.32 feet (maximum level - 71 ft).

With dry weather forecast for various parts of the southern districts over the next 24 hours, the officials do not anticipate any flooding in the region.

There was no word on lowering the water level at the Mullaperiyar dam to 139 ft. Apprehending a risk to inhabitants in the region, the Kerala government had approached the Supreme Court, seeking a direction to lower the water level at the dam. However, the Tamil Nadu government had contended that the dam was safe and stable, pointing out that the Supreme Court-appointed three-member panel, which inspected the dam a fortnight ago, confirmed the same.

OPS inspects repair work

Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, accompanied by Theni Collector M. Pallavi Baldev and senior engineers of the PWD and the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, inspected the ongoing repair work at the Kumuli stretch, portions of which were damaged by landslides during the recent rains.

Addressing mediapersons, he said Tamil Nadu would like to be friendly with its neighbours, and issues concerning the two States [Tamil Nadu and Kerala] would be sorted out. “Now, Kerala is reeling under floods, and the people are suffering there. As their neighbour, we have to help them. The State government would reach out to the people in distress and provide them with relief materials,” he said.

Joining hands with the official machinery, a large number of service organisations, traders and vendors donated essential commodities to aid flood victims in Kerala. Close to 50 truckloads were dispatched from districts including Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Madurai, Ramanathapuram and Theni. Other districts are also preparing to send relief materials in the next few days.

Tirunelveli Collector Shilpa Prabhakar Satish said relief materials were being sent to Kollam district via Nagercoil and Thiruvananthapuram as the ghat road remained closed following landslips.

Likewise, Kanniyakumari Collector Prashant M. Wadanere said 11 truckloads of essential commodities had been sent to Kerala as on Saturday.

Madurai Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao on Saturday flagged off seven trucks carrying relief materials including rice, vegetables, instant food packets, clothes, candles, napkins and medicines.

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