Two washed away in flash flood as rain rocks Dindigul, Theni

KODAIKANAL

Two persons were washed away in a flash flood at Moolaiyaru on Kodaikanal-Batlagundu Ghat Road owing to torrential shower that rocked the hill and other parts of Dindigul district on Saturday.

Fire and Rescue Service personnel found the body of Jaya (55) near the downstream area. They were in search of her 13-year-old daughter. Six women workers caught in the flash flood while they were crossing the stream near Thazhodai area to go to their village after farm work on Saturday evening. Local people rescued four women. But two were missing. Flow was heavy in all steams.

In Dindigul, heavy rain coupled with strong gale wreaked havoc on the town and nearby areas. One of the railway gates collapsed and fell on the Madurai-Chennai railway track. Railway workers cleared the track. However, train services were not affected but vehicles were stranded on both sides of the track on Siluvathur Main Road near Balakrishnapuram. Traffic was disrupted for two hours. Railway officials who temporarily cleared the road stood near the gate and regulated traffic.

Several trees were uprooted and the compound wall of a house collapsed at Balakrishnapuram. A tree fell on a car near Ranganayaki Nagar. Rainwater flooded on the road at Masilamanipuram and nearby areas. Downpour was also recorded in Theni district. Bathing ban was on in the Kumbakarai falls. Sothuparai dam has been overflowing for the past four days.