Tirunelveli, Tenkasi districts experience widespread rainfall

The district experienced widespread rainfall on Wednesday night and in the early hours of Thursday.

While hamlets in Western Ghats like Oothu, Naalumukku, Kakachi and Manjolai recorded good rainfall till Thursday morning, places like Ambasamudram, Nambiyar dam and Palayamkottai also received significant rainfall. However, no rainfall was reported in any part of the district during the day on Thursday.

The incessant strong drizzle that started late on Wednesday night, continued till Thursday 5 p.m. causing puddles along the already badly damaged roads of Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai.

District Collector Anand Mohan declared holiday for schools on Thursday following incessant overnight drizzle.

Corporation Commissioner Monika Rana visited some of the waterlogged areas including Bharani Nagar in Ward 10, Balaji Nagar in Vannarpet (Ward 11), behind Hotel Apple Ttree, on the Pettai ITI campus in Ward 18 and along Sivanthipatti main road in Ward 39, where the Corporation personnel were deployed to drain the stagnant rainwater.

The Commissioner also inspected the restoration of the clogged storm water canals near Anna Stadium and along the Nellai Kannan Road near Tirunelveli Town Arch as rainwater was stagnating along the road.

As the overnight rain felled a huge tree at Medina Nagar in Ward 52 obstructing vehicular traffic, Dr. Monika visited the spot to expedite the removal of the uprooted tree.

Rainfall in the district (in mm): Ooththu – 128, Naalumukku – 112, Kaakkaachi – 88, Nambiyar Dam – 80, Maanjolai – 68, Ambasamudram – 62, Palayamkottai – 61, Kannadiyan Channel – 57, Kodumudiyar Dam – 50, Manimuthar Dam – 46, Tirunelveli – 39, Kalakkad – 28, Papanasam Dam – 27, Servalar Dam – 25, Cheranmahadevi – 24, Radhapuram – 23, Moolaikkaraipatti – 20 and Nanguneri – 14.

Water level in dams (in feet): Papanasam Dam - 50.85 (maximum 143), Servalar Dam – 70.80 (156), Manimuthar Dam – 61.84 (118), Vadakku Pachchaiyar Dam – 6 (49.20), Nambiyaru Dam – 10.30 (22.96) and Kodumudiyar Dam – 14 (52.50).

Tenkasi District Collector Ranjeet Singh too declared holiday for the schools on Thursday following widespread overnight rain in the district. As all waterfalls in Courtallam experienced heavy influx of water, the waterfalls remained closed and hence the tourists were prevented from taking bath.

The rain has drenched the ‘kar’ season paddy ready for harvest in several parts of the district. As the farmers had belatedly started their ‘kar’ paddy season agricultural operations after the Southwest monsoon set along the Western Ghats very late, the paddy, which should have been harvested in October first week, is ready for harvest only now and hence the farmers are in a tricky situation now.

Rainfall in the district (in mm): Shencottai – 90, Sivaigiri – 71, Gundar Dam – 70, Karuppanadhi Dam – 69, Aayikudi – 64, Tenkasi – 62, Ramanadhi Dam – 50, Adavinainarkovil Dam – 48, Gadananadhi Dam – 40 and Sankarankovil – 24.

Water level in dams (in feet): Gadananadhi Dam – 59.50 (maximum 85), Ramanadhi Dam – 51 (84), Karuppanadhi Dam – 29.42 (72.10), Gundar Dam – 31.75 (36.10) and Adavinainarkovil Dam – 105 (132.22).