Heavy rains lash Nilgiris; houses inundated in Gudalur

COIMBATORE: More than 20 houses were inundated due to heavy water flow in canals that feed Moyar river in The Nilgiris following heavy rains on Saturday night.

Heavy showers lashed parts of Gudalur resulting in flooding of canals running through Ottravayal, Kutrimutri, Kammathi, Puthurvayal and Thorapalli settlements. Water entered into more than 20 houses in Thorapalli locality. Though the flow of water reduced on Sunday morning, the houses continued to remain inundated.

Villagers urged the district administration to devise projects with a long-term vision to prevent flooding in the tribal hamlets during rains.

Meanwhile, vehicle movement between Gudalur-Ooty was disrupted at night, as huge boulders rolled down the road near Naduvattam.

The Naduvattam police along with Revenue Department officials removed the boulders by deploying earth movers. This incident led to traffic disruption for around two hours.

In a rain related incident, a huge tree was uprooted and fell on the house of one Tamil Selvi in ‘O’ Valley causing damage to roofing. She urged the administration to provide compensation for the damage.

Following rains in The Nilgiris, the inflow into Bhavani Sagar dam surged to 9,400 cusecs.

Officials said the entire water was discharged, as the dam now has 102 feet of water as against its full capacity of 105 feet.

Meanwhile, inflow into the Stanley reservoir in Mettur reduced significantly to around 50,000 cusecs at 9 am on Sunday from 65,000 cusecs at 8 am, after the intensity of the rainfall reduced in Cauvery catchment areas. As the dam is at its full reservoir level, the entire surplus water is discharged.