Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts of Tamil Nadu receive heavy rain, holiday declared for schools

TIRUNELVELI: Heavy rain triggered by a low pressure area over the India Ocean lashed Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday night and in the early hours of Wednesday.
The collectors declared a holiday for schools in these districts on Wednesday. However, Class XI board exams would be conducted as usual. The collectors asked the staff on examination duty to be available as usual.

Manonmaniam Sundaranar University declared one-day holiday for colleges affiliated to it in Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari districts. However, the internal exams and semester practical exams for undergraduate and postgraduate students would be held as usual. University sources said the message had been passed on to the affiliated colleges.

There is no holiday for schools in Kanyakumari district. The district recorded an average rainfall of 18.2mm.

Several trains, including Chennai-Tuticorin Pearl City Express, were delayed due to rain.

The catchment areas of all the three falls in Courtallam received heavy rain. Bathing was banned in Courtallam Old Falls, Main Falls and Five Falls. Water from the Old Falls flooded the car parking area and flowed through the roads, making it impossible for tourists to reach the falls.

Tuticorin city recorded the highest rainfall of 200mm, followed by 190mm in Papanasam in Tirunelveli district during the 24 hours till 8am on Wednesday.

Tirunelveli district recorded an average rainfall of 62.19mm. Tuticorin district recorded an average rainfall of 55.83mm in the 24 hours.

The rain resulted in marginal improvement in the water level in the reservoirs in the region. Water level in Papanasam reservoir rose by four feet to 32 feet in a day.