Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi Rains: The Viral Videos Show Devastation Caused By Floods In Tamil Nadu Districts

Heavy rains lashed four districts of southern Tamil Nadu, a week after the state capital Chennai and the northern regions faced the impact of Cyclone Michaung.

Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, and Kanniyakumari experienced substantial rainfall on Sunday. The unprecedented rains have disrupted normal life due to which a public holiday has been declared for the educational institutions, banks and government offices.

Several areas in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Kanyakumari districts are inundated with water ranging from knee to waist-deep. This flooding is a result of the release of water from Papanasam, Perunjani, and Pechuparai dams.

The flash floods hit various low-lying areas in Tirunelveli, including the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, which found itself submerged.

Chettikulam village, Anuvijay township, and several city streets were submerged due to heavy rains. In Thoothukudi, heavy rainfall was reported in Srivaikundam, Tiruchendur, and Sathankulam districts, with Sathankulam recording 207 mm between 8:30 am and 1:30 pm.

Kanyakumari faced rainwater inundation in Nagercoil and surrounding low-lying areas. Fire and rescue services personnel successfully rescued residents of Meenakshi Garden in Nagercoil. Additionally, the Pechiparai and Perunchani dams released over 4,000 cusecs of water, leading to the suspension of bus services due to flooded district roads.

Persistent heavy rains in Kanyakumari district resulted in flooding on the Myiladi-Anjugramam road, Kozhikode Pothai-Thovalai road, and Irachakulam-Phethuvilai roads. These roads are currently impassable, prompting motorists to seek alternate routes.

The authorities are considering releasing additional water from local reservoirs. The Papanasam and Manimuthar dams, situated on the Thamirabarani River in Tirunelveli, were at 80 per cent and 45 per cent capacity, respectively.

The Tirunelveli district administration issued a warning to residents along the Thamirabarani River to stay vigilant due to the embanked water drainage system connected to the river estuary.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall today as a cyclonic circulation over the Comorin area is exacerbating the situation.

The visuals of the flood-hit Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi show the havoc created by the rains.