Southern Districts Battling Continued Rainfall and Flooding
Several southern districts in Tamil Nadu experienced moderate to light rainfall on Tuesday, leading to significant flooding in multiple areas of Tirunelveli and Tuticorin. The persistent showers have prompted authorities to issue flood alerts for regions situated along the riverbeds of Thamirabarani in both Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts.
Rainfall Measurements and Immediate Impact
Official rainfall data reveals that Tuticorin received an average of 7.55mm of precipitation, while Tirunelveli recorded a substantially higher 43.46mm on average. Tenkasi district registered approximately 6mm of rainfall during the same period.
The adverse weather conditions have already caused tangible damage across the affected regions. Preliminary reports indicate that 15 houses suffered minor structural damage, and tragically, one cow died due to the flooding in Tirunelveli district. Authorities have maintained restrictions preventing visitors from entering the popular Courtallam falls in Tenkasi as a safety precaution.
Thamirabarani River Situation and Official Response
The Thamirabarani river in Tirunelveli district has witnessed a dramatic increase in water volume following several days of heavy rainfall, even though the intensity of rain has since diminished. Tirunelveli District Collector R Sukumar personally inspected the river situation opposite the collectorate on Tuesday.
During his assessment, Collector Sukumar revealed striking statistics about the river's swelling volume. The water flow at the bridge opposite the collectorate surged dramatically from 19,000 cubic feet on Monday morning to 32,787 cubic feet by Tuesday morning. This substantial increase is primarily attributed to controlled water releases from upstream reservoirs, including 12,000 cubic feet from Papanasam dam and 4,000 cubic feet from Manimuthar dam.
Despite the concerning numbers, the collector offered reassurance to concerned residents, stating that flooding would only become a genuine threat if the water flow reaches 60,000 cubic feet. Consequently, the alert level has been downgraded from orange to yellow as rainfall continues to recede.
Preparedness Measures and Agricultural Damage
Emergency response teams have been strategically positioned throughout the vulnerable areas. A 26-member TNDRF team remains on standby at the Anna Sports Stadium in Palayamkottai, while the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed in Valliyur. Authorities have identified 72 flood-prone zones and have prepared necessary machinery and safety equipment for rapid deployment if required.
The Papanasam dam's current water level stands at 131 feet, representing 87.76% of its total capacity. Agricultural sectors have not been spared from the weather's impact, with crops covering approximately 20 hectares becoming submerged under floodwaters. While water is gradually receding from these agricultural areas, officials are still conducting comprehensive assessments to determine the full extent of damage to paddy and banana crops.
In a related development, Tuticorin MP Kanimozhi and Social Welfare Minister P Geetha Jeevan conducted an inspection of waterlogging mitigation efforts in the Adhiparasakthi Nagar area within Tuticorin corporation limits, underscoring the government's attention to the situation.
