Home » Tamil Nadu » Heavy Rain Pounds Kanniyakumari Tirunelveli Thoothukudi And Tenkasi Districts In Southern Tamil Nadu

Heavy rain pounds Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Tenkasi districts in southern Tamil Nadu

An RMC bulletin said a cyclonic circulation is now seen over the Comorin area and its neighbourhood, extending up to mid-tropospheric levels.

BySouth First Desk

Published Dec 17, 2023 | 6:52 PM ⚊UpdatedDec 17, 2023 | 6:53 PM

Flood-like situation in Tamil nadu following the rains.

Heavy rains under the influence of a cyclonic circulation lashed southern Tamil Nadu on Sunday, 17 December, inundating several areas in districts including Kanniyakumari.

Since the Thamirabarani river is in spate, Chief Minister MK Stalin directed authorities to release surplus water into the Kannadian channel, marking a dry run under a river-linking project in southern Tamil Nadu.

A Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) bulletin said a cyclonic circulation is now seen over the Comorin area and its neighbourhood, extending up to mid-tropospheric levels.

The India Meteorological Department also predicted isolated very heavy rainfall is also very likely over south Tamil Nadu on Monday. South Kerala is also predicted to have heavy rainfall on Monday.

Also read: Many parts of Tamil Nadu receive rain post-cyclone

Heavy rainfall in some areas

On Sunday, heavy rains lashed Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Tenkasi districts.

Some regions recorded very heavy rainfall. Since Saturday, light to moderate rainfall has been recorded at most places in southern Tamil Nadu. Water entered houses in low-lying areas. As reservoirs are filling up fast surplus water is being released.

Several regions in such southern districts witnessed inundation which was heavy in a string of areas and authorities declared a holiday for schools and colleges.

Disaster Response Force teams have been deployed. Local authorities and police made arrangements for evacuating people from flooded and vulnerable areas to relief centres.

An official release in Chennai said Stalin has ordered the release of surplus water into the Kannadian channel which will carry flood water to arid regions in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts, benefitting farmers.

Southern districts of Tamil Nadu have experienced substantial rainfall since early Sunday morning.
The downpour has particularly affected Thoothukkudi and Tenkasi districts, causing disruptions to daily life. Earlier IMD had issued orange alert in some districts of #Kerala and… pic.twitter.com/22FjClxJ2R

— South First (@TheSouthfirst) December 17, 2023

The release of water

The release of surplus water is a preparatory exercise under the Thamirabarani, Karumeniyaru and Nambiyaru (in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts of Tamil Nadu) river-linking project, which is nearing completion.

On 16 December, the cyclonic circulation was in the lower tropospheric levels over the equatorial Indian Ocean and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal off the south Sri Lanka coast.

From 16 December morning to 17 December morning, isolated, heavy to very heavy rain was recorded in Tirunelveli district.

Also, isolated heavy rain was witnessed in Kanniyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts. Nalumukku area in Tirunelveli district reported the highest rainfall of 19 cm during this period.

For Monday, the RMC has forecast heavy to very heavy rain at one or two places in Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Tenkasi districts and light to moderate rain at many places in south Tamil Nadu.

Tamilnadu received isolated havy to very heavy rainfall during 0830 IST of 16.12.23 to 0830 IST 17.12.23 pic.twitter.com/08qxTjYPwa

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) December 17, 2023