Heavy rain continues to batter Tamil Nadu’s Nilgris; fallen trees create traffic chaos

Meanwhile, in view of the heavy rain forecast, the district administration has announced a rain holiday for all schools on Thursday.

As per the latest bulletin issued by the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, an average of 20 cm of rainfall was recorded in Avalanche in the Nilgiris district in the 24-hour period ending Thursday morning. Upper Bhavani also recorded 11 cm followed by Worth Estate Cherrumuli (9 cm), Pandalur (7 cm), Devala (7 cm) and Glenmorgan, Naduvattam with 6 cm each in Nilgiris.

Significant rainfall was also recorded in other areas in the district including Barwood, Wood Braiyar Estate, Gudalur, Emerald, Kothagiri, Ketti etc. Similarly, other places across the state, including Chinnakalar (11 cm) in the Coimbatore district, Gundar Dam in Tenkasi and a few areas in Tirunelveli recorded significant amounts of rainfall.

Earlier, Nilgiris District Collector S P Amrith told reporters that the authorities have formed zonal teams to identify and monitor 283 areas that may suffer damage due to heavy rainfall.

Amrith noted that due to the southwest monsoon, the rainfall has been heavy in a few taluks. “Our teams are working round the clock and are in total readiness to tackle the challenges. A total of 400 temporary relief centres are kept ready to house people if and when necessary. Two NDRF teams comprising 45 people have been stationed in Gudalur and Udhagamandalam. Among six taluks here, heavy rainfall is witnessed mainly in Avalanche and Upper Bhavani, which are catchment areas,” he told The Indian Express.