As Chennai & north Tamil Nadu return to normalcy, Tirunelveli in state’s south flooded due to heavy rain

Heavy rains inundated the districts of southern Tamil Nadu on December 17, a week after state capital Chennai and the northern part of the state faced the onslaught of Cyclone Michaung.

Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, and Kanniyakumari in the deep south of Tamil Nadu — a region historically known as ‘Pandya Nadu’ — received so much rainfall on December 17 that authorities are now contemplating releasing more water from local reservoirs. The Papanasam and Manimuthar dams — both on the Thamirabarani river in Tirunelveli — were at 80 per cent and 45 per cent capacity, respectively. 

The Tirunelveli district administration issued a warning to residents along the Thamirabarani river to steer clear, given the embanked water drainage system connected to the river estuary. By 1 pm, the district administration announced a gradual increase in water release from the Papanasam and Servalaru dams to 30,000 cusecs by 3-4 pm, anticipating rising inflow and the need for a safety buffer against potential night rainfall, as conveyed by Deputy Commissioner KP Karthikayan.

For assistance, residents were urged to contact the state control room at 1070 and the district disaster management control room at 1077. Numerous areas in Tirunelveli, both urban and rural, were submerged, with the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai predicting exceptionally heavy rainfall on December 17 and December 18 (till mid-day).

Updates from the regional centre and Tirunelveli’s disaster management department indicated that Naalumukku in the Manjolai Hills recorded the highest rainfall in Tamil Nadu at 190 millimetres (mm). Other locations — Manjolai (135 mm), Oothu (169 mm), and Kakkachi (152 mm) — also reported significant rainfall, according to state disaster management officials.

Flash floods affected various low-lying areas in Tirunelveli, including the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, which was submerged in the afternoon. Dean Revathy Balan and hospital authorities deployed heavy lift pumps to clear the stagnant water.

Chettikulam village, Anuvijay township, and numerous city streets faced submersion, prompting Tirunelveli Commissioner Thakare Shubham D to establish a flood relief centre in the Melapalayam neighbourhood and various public places. As of 6:30 pm on December 17, a few families had been relocated to these facilities in Melapalayam.

In Thoothukudi, Srivaikundam, Tiruchendur, and Sathankulam districts, heavy rainfall was reported, with Sathankulam recording 207 mm between 8:30 am and 1:30 pm. Kanyakumari’s rainwater inundated Nagercoil and surrounding low-lying areas. Fire and rescue services personnel rescued residents of Meenakshi Garden in Nagercoil. Additionally, dams at Pechiparai and Perunchani released over 4,000 cusecs of water, resulting in the suspension of bus services due to flooded district roads.

Due to continuous heavy rains in Kanyakumari district, the Myiladi-Anjugramam road, Kozhikode Pothai-Thovalai road, Irachakulam-Phethuvilai roads have been flooded. Traffic is blocked on these roads, with motorists taking alternate routes.