Locals seek proper drainage as heavy rain inundates houses

Incessant rain inundated houses and industrial units prompting residents to resort to road roko. They urged the local body to build proper drainage systems to prevent water stagnation. 

As the sewage-mixed water entered into houses, the Revenue officials rushed to the area and shifted residents to a government school at Iduvampalayam. Even though the rain subsided, the stagnant water didn’t drain off even on Sunday. 

Following this, the villagers blocked the Andipalayam Road claiming that all their belongings and books of children were damaged in the water.

Officials promised to suck away the stagnant water using motors, but the villagers sought them to create proper drainage facilities. 

Similarly, rainwater entered into more than 100 houses at Military Colony in Rayapuram around Sunday afternoon. The locals broke into an argument with police and Corporation staff who visited the area. Several low lying areas including SIDCO area were inundated in the rain.

However, the other district didn’t receive heavy rain, as was expected and the sky remained mostly clear. In view of the heavy rain forecast, Southern Railway cancelled Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) services on Mettupalayam-Coonoor-Udhagamandalam section for three days from Sunday. Heavy rain often disrupts the NMR service as boulders roll down the track.

In Erode, tourists were barred from taking bath at the flooded Kodiveri falls for the second consecutive day. The PWD have also suspended coracle operations in the dam and advised people to refrain from bathing, washing clothes and fishing in the Bhavani River, which is in spate. Tourists from Coimbatore, Salem and other districts, who visited the falls returned disappointed due to the restrictions.

The Bhavani Sagar dam was inching towards its full reservoir level of 120 feet due to heavy inflow following the downpour in The Nilgiris. Its sluice gates are likely to be opened anytime to discharge surplus water and the restrictions would continue until the water flow recedes.

Similarly, tourists were also barred from taking bath at Monkey Falls near Pollachi. Water flow in the falls was heavy in Valparai and its surrounding areas too.