TIRUNELVELI
Bathing in the Main Falls and the Five Falls in Courtallam was banned for the second day on Monday as rain continued to lash the Western Ghats.
Even as intermittent drizzle continued in places situated far from the Western Ghats, incessant rain in the hilly region ensured good influx of water into dams and all waterfalls in Courtallam.
Flood in the Main Falls swelled menacingly in the morning following overnight rains on the Western Ghats. The heavy flow even covered the protective concrete arch.
Though water flow in the Five Falls was relatively mild, police did not allow tourists to bath there. Visitors were, however, allowed to bath in the Old Falls.
Major reservoirs in the district continued to get significant influx of water, much to the jubilation of farmers and water managers. The catchment areas of Papanasam dam experienced 61 mm rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. on Monday.
Water level in Servalar dam has risen to 88.91 feet against its maximum capacity of 156 feet with an inflow of 1,913 cusecs.
However, precipitation in the catchment areas of Manimuthar dam, the district’s largest dam, is far from satisfactory as the 14 mm rainfall recorded in the catchment areas brought only 807 cusecs of water into the reservoir. The tourists were not allowed to bath in the Manimuthar Falls.
Since 304 cusecs of water is being discharged from Papanasam dam to meet the drinking water needs of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts, no water is discharged from Manimuthar dam.
Water level in the dams was (in feet – maximum level in brackets): Gadana – 64.50 (85), Ramanadhi – 68.75 (84), Gundar – 36.10 (36.10) Karuppanadhi – 54.46 (72), Vadakku Pachchaiyar – 3.75 (67), Nambiyaru – 5.54 (25), Kodumudiyaru – 27 (57) and Adavinainar – 95 (142).
Rainfall recorded in various places was (in mm): Gundar dam 52, Adavinainar dam 35, Shencottai 27, Servalar dam 23, Kodumudiyar dam 20, Tenkasi 15.20, Manimuthar dam 14.20, Karuppanadhi dam 14, Ambasamudram and Gadana dam 12 each, Aayikudi 11, Ramanadhi dam 10, Nanguneri 8, Sivagiri, Sankarankovil and Cheranmahadevi 6 each, Palayamkottai 4, Nambiyaru dam 2 and Tirunelveli 1.