Torrential downpour lashes Coimbatore district

Coimbatore district records extremely heavy rainfall, leading to rising water levels in reservoirs and flood alerts issued.

The Coimbatore district witnessed a torrential downpour on Sunday and in the rainfall that ended at 8.30 a.m. on Monday, Chinna Kallar recorded the highest of 213 mm which is classified as extremely heavy rainfall.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department’s rainfall report, Coimbatore district received a total rainfall of 1232 mm, with the average being 53.57 mm across all 23 rain gauge stations.

The amount of rainfall experienced at various rainfall stations in the district is as follows in mm: P.N. Palayam- 13.40, Mettupalayam- 18, Pilloor Dam- 9.6, Coimbatore South taluk- 16, Sulur- 18.4, PWD office Vaarappatti- 22, BDO office Thondamuthur- 12, Siruvani Adivaram- 128, Madukkarai taluk- 43.2, Railway Station Podanur- 39.2, Pollachi taluk office- 41, PWD IB Makkinampatti- 80, Kinathukkadavu taluk- 22, Anamalai taluk- 28, Aliyar- 124, Cincona- 124, Chinnakalar- 213, Valparai PAP- 114, Valparai taluk- 109, and Sholayar- 99.

Water storage in Sholyar reservoir stood at 25.55 ft as against the full reservoir level (FRL) of 165, Parambiukulam recorded 28,52 ft as against the FRL of 72 ft and Aliyar recorded 77.10 ft as against the FRL of 120 ft. With copious inflow continuing into the reservoirs, the storage is expected to improve comfortably.

The Forest Department has closed public access to Kaviaruvi on the Aliyar - Valparai Road, Panchalinga Falls, Kovai Coutrallam, and Velliangiri hills.

Siruvani reservoir with a FRL of 48.850 ft can store water up to 44.61 taking the safety precautions into consideration and the storage has improved from 19.02 to 21.05 ft. As a result of the water flow, river Noyyal is in spate. Siruvani water storage has been steadily improving and in the last 24 hours that ended at 8.30 a.m., the storage was reported at 24 ft.

Pilloor reservoir with a FRL of 100 ft can store water up to 97.5 ft and the storage is fast reaching the brim. Inflow into the reservoir was at 18.120 ft and the entire inflow is being discharged into river Bhavani and a flood alert has been sounded along the banks of river Bhavani and seventeen families have been evacuated.