Heavy rain in Tamil Nadu & Kerala, flood alert issued

The good rains this year have meant that many dams in Tamil Nadu have filled up fast but along with that there have been problems.

Thanks to the active north east monsoon, storage in the 71 ft high Vaigai Dam in Theni district has touched 68 ft and a second flood alert has been issued.

People living in low lying areas along the banks of the River Vaigai have been asked to move to safer locations and holiday declared in schools in the city following heavy rain.

In fact, it has been raining very heavily in most places in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Kanyakumari, Madurai, and Pondicherry recorded more than 6 CM of rain overnight. Three people have been killed in Madurai.
The water-level in the Mettur Reservoir has been rising and floodwaters have entered villages.

Traffic between Bodinayakanur and Munnar, a tourist spot in Kerala, was affected for the second day today following landslip at the 12th hair-pin bend yesterday,Officials said.

Besides, in what is suspected to be large-scale illegal felling of trees in both Tamil Nadu and Kerala side of the forests, landslips had been reported at some points between Mundal and Bodimettu.

Bus services between Munnar and Bodi had also been affected and estate workers could not reach Munnar. Highway officials said at some places boulders were precariously jutting out.

Traffic in Kodaikanal hills was also affected following landslips at Srinivasapuram on Kodaikanal-Vathalakundu road. (With PTI inputs)