Heavy Rain in Tamil Nadu: Schools and Colleges Closed in Villupuram and Cuddalore
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Chennai, Dec 4 (NationPress) A holiday has been announced for educational institutions on Wednesday in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram and three panchayat unions in Cuddalore district due to the heavy rainfall and flooding along the banks of the Thenpennai River, where the water level continues to be elevated.
In Puducherry, 22 schools are currently being utilized as relief camps for those affected by the recent flooding caused by Cyclone Fengal. However, all other schools and colleges in the area will continue to operate normally.
A flood alert has been issued for residents living along the banks of the Cauvery River. The inflow to Hogenakkal increased from 5,500 cusecs on Monday to 30,000 cusecs by Tuesday at 4 p.m. following heavy rainfall in the catchment regions.
In Dharmapuri, Collector K. Shanthi has mandated the suspension of coracle services and bathing activities at Hogenakkal Falls. Residents living near the Cauvery riverbanks have been advised to relocate to safer locations.
Joint teams consisting of fire and rescue personnel, police, and revenue department officials are actively patrolling the area to deter people from entering the river for bathing or washing.
The water level in Mettur Dam in Salem is anticipated to rise steadily over the next few days. On Monday, the inflow into the dam was recorded at 7,414 cusecs, which increased to 9,246 cusecs by Tuesday morning. The dam's water storage level also rose slightly, from 110.93 feet on Monday to 111.39 feet on Tuesday. Despite the extensive rainfall, the water released from the dam has been kept minimal, at 1,000 cusecs for Delta irrigation and 300 cusecs for canal irrigation.
Since October 1, Tamil Nadu has experienced nearly 43 cm of rainfall this season, surpassing the average of 36 cm.
The intense rains from Cyclone Fengal over the past two days have significantly mitigated rain deficits across numerous districts.
As of Tuesday (December 3), Villupuram and Krishnagiri districts have reported a surplus of 74 percent and 78 percent, respectively, in seasonal rainfall.
The repercussions of Cyclone Fengal have been devastating. In Tamil Nadu, 12 lives have been lost due to rain-related disasters.
A total of 211,139 hectares of agricultural and horticultural land have been submerged, and damages include 1,649 km of electric conductors, 23,664 electric poles, and 997 transformers. Furthermore, 9,576 km of roads, 1,847 culverts, and 417 tanks have suffered damage, according to reports. The severe rainfall has displaced a large number of people, affecting around 6.9 million families.
In a single day, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, and Kallakurichi districts received over 50 cm of rainfall, equivalent to an entire season's average, resulting in significant flooding and extensive destruction to infrastructure and crops.
