Rain lashed western parts of Tirunelveli on Monday night while dry spell continues in catchment areas of major reservoirs in the district.
After sweltering heat in Tenkasi and nearby areas for over a month, summer rain has started bringing respite to residents for the past one week. The showers continued on Monday; the evening was so pleasant and it started raining in the night also strongly.
As the downpour was coupled with strong winds, the gale broke huge branches of old trees in Tenkasi, Ilanji and Shencottai that fell on nearby busy roads to affect traffic for a while. The obstacles were removed by fire and rescue services personnel.
Thunderstorm that lashed Paavoorchathram, Tenkasi, Courtallam, Ilanji, Vallam, Shencottai, Paimpozhil and Vadakarai for about an hour since 9.15 p.m. triggered flow of water in Main Falls, Five Falls and Old Courtallam Falls in Courtallam since midnight. As photos of these waterfalls gushing with water were shared on social media, tourists from Tirunelveli and nearby districts started thronging Courtallam since Tuesday morning.
“As no police have been deployed near the waterfalls, the problem being created by drunkards is unbearable. Bathers also liberally use soaps, shampoo and detergents, all banned by the High Court, as there is no monitoring near the waterfalls,” complained women visitors.
Though towns and smaller reservoirs close to the Western Ghats in the western Tirunelveli were blessed with some rainfall on Monday night, catchment areas of major dams like Papanasam, Servalar and Manimuthar Dams that meet drinking water needs of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar districts did not experience any rainfall.
While Papanasam Dam had trivial precipitation of 2 m.m., the Servalar Dam had to content with 1 m.m., the lowest rainfall in the district in the past 24 hours.
“Since water level in the Papanasam Dam has touched 16 feet against its maximum capacity of 143 feet, the reservoir has water for about four or five feet as the rest would be silt. So continuous and torrential rainfall in catchment areas for about a week can jack up water level in this dam to a comfortable position before the onset of south-west monsoon in June,” said a PWD official.
Rainfall in the district (in mm): Tenkasi – 41.50, Shencottai – 41, Sivagiri – 40, Aayikudi – 39.40, Karuppanadhi Dam – 38, Adavinainar Dam – 23, Gundar Dam – 21, Ramanadhi Dam – 18, Gadana Dam – 10, Sankarankovil – 5, Papanasam Dam and Ambasamudram – 2 and Servalar Dam – 1.