Rain relents in southern districts, Collectors start relief operations

Tirunelveli Collector R. Sukumar inspecting flood condition in Tamirabharani River at Kokkirakulam on Tuesday.
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Rain has relented to a greater extent in southern districts to allow official machinery to start relief operations and repairing of damaged infrastructure.

Tirunelveli Collector R. Sukumar dispelled the rumour that the Tamirabharani watercourse would experience flooding on Tuesday night following increased discharge of water from Papanasam and Manimuthar dams in the district and Gadananadhi and Ramanadhi dams in Tenkasi district.

“The watercourse can handle up to 60,000 cusecs of water. The 19,000 cusecs of water released in the river on Monday morning rose to 32,787 on Tuesday due to the 12,000 cusecs released from the overflowing Gadananadhi and Ramanadhi dams. The situation is under control and the discharge has been reduced accordingly after rain almost stopped in the district while a few places in the Western Ghats alone recorded significant rainfall till 8 a.m. on Tuesday,” said Mr. Sukumar, who inspected the Tamirabharani at a few spots.

The discharge from Papanasam dam, which was over 12,000 cusecs till Tuesday morning, was reduced to 2,000 cusecs at 2 p.m. after the inflow into the reservoir fell sharply.

The Collector said men and material had been kept ready in the 72 flood-prone areas of the district. A TNDRF team, with 26 men, had been stationed at Palayamkottai, and the NDRF team at Valliyoor could rush to any place quickly for rescue operations.

He said paddy raised on 20 hectares was submerged and assessment would be done after the rainwater receded. “Even though plantain damage near Mela Seval, Keezha Seval, Pirnacheri and Chockalingapuram was initially estimated to be nearly a lakh, it is not so. We will survey the affected fields soon,” he said, adding 15 houses were partially damaged in the rains.

In Courtallam in Tenkasi district, bathing ban continued for the fifth day on Tuesday in all major waterfalls following heavy water flow.

All the five reservoirs in the district – Gadana (the maximum capacity 85 feet), Ramanadhi (84 ft.), Karuppanadhi (72 ft.), Gundar (36 ft.) and Adavinainarkovil (132 ft.) dams – have almost reached their maximum level.

Social Welfare Minister P. Geetha Jeevan, Collector K. Elambahavath, Commissioner C. Priyanka, Mayor Jegan Periyasamy and MP Kanimozhi visited some areas in Thoothukudi where rainwater is stagnating. Stagnant rainwater is being pumped out at Adhiparasakthi Nagar, Rahmath Nagar, P&T Colony, Kathirvel Nagar, Kokkur and other areas.

“Twenty-nine huts and two houses have been partially damaged in the district,” Mr. Elambahavath said.

The water flow in Thirparappu Falls in Kanniyakumari district was well above danger mark, forcing officials to ban bathing. “Pechipparai dam has water up to 44 ft. against the maximum level of 48 ft. Even as inflow was 1,294 cusecs, 1,835 cusecs of water is discharged from the reservoir, and hence Thirparappu waterfalls swelled,” said the officials.

Collector R. Alagumeena said local bodies and the officials were urging the people not to go near waterbodies.

Significant rainfall figures recorded in the 24 hours till 6 a.m. on Tuesday in the four southern districts were (in mm): Ooththu 167, Nalumukku 165, Kakkachi 143, Manjolai 132, Kayalpattinam 38, Balamore 34, Papanasam dam 31, Kulasekarapattinam 27, Gadananadhi dam 25, Tiruchendur 21, Moolaikkaraipatti 20, Servalar dam 18, Ambasamudram 17, Kuzhithurai 16, Nanguneri 15, Manimuthar dam, Srivaikundam and Adaiyamadai 14 each, Radhapuram, Sathankulam, Surulacode and Soorankudi 13 each, Puththen dam 12, Kannadiyan Channel, Kottaram and Perunchani dam 11 each, and Nambiyar dam and Ramanadhi dam 10 each.

Published – November 25, 2025 07:07 pm IST