Rain likely to continue till Tuesday in Tirunelveli, says Collector

Unprecedented rainfall hits Tirunelveli district, causing disruption of normal life. Collector declares holiday & relief camps for affected areas.

Unprecedented rainfall since Saturday night has hit normal life in Tirunelveli district and, according to the forecast from the Indian Meteorological Department, the rain will continue till Tuesday afternoon in the region.

Speaking to media persons, Collector K.P. Karthikeyan said the 24-hour rainfall recorded in the district stood at an average of 25.5 cm with Servalaru recording a low of 17 cm and Manjolai a high of 35.5 cm. Officials from multiple departments were closely monitoring the rainfall reports received from rain gauge stations in the district.

While the carrying capacity in Tamirabharani river was around 85,000 cusecs to 1 lakh cusecs, it stood at 33,640 cusecs now and might increase during the night. The officials proposed to release up to 45,000-48,000 cusecs in phases. “We are taking all precautions as the tail-end areas should not get flooded,” he responded to a query.

In 1993, rainfall was reported only in forest areas of the district, while now a major part of the district, including the city and its peripheries, were experiencing heavy downpour.

Asked about the evacuation measures, he said the district had been divided into five zones and officials from revenue, fire, Tangedco and State Disaster Management Relief departments were engaged in moving people from low-lying areas to relief camps. There were no issues with regard to accommodation as 843 relief camps were ready and basic needs were in place, Dr Karthikeyan said.

The Corporation officials were also geared to clear waterlogging areas and 60 JCBs were at the disposal of officials and would be moved wherever necessary. As a precautionary measure, power lines had been switched off. Only after the waterlogging had been cleared or when there were no incidents of tree fall or electric wires snapping, power would be resumed, he clarified.

The NDRF had despatched 75 personnel (three teams) and SDRF had 90 men (three teams) to support the ground teams. He appealed to residents to remain indoors and not to venture out unnecessarily.