TIRUNELVELI
After reeling under extreme heat over a couple of months, the district experienced widespread drizzle on Monday, and areas close to the Western Ghats received decent showers heralding the onset of southwest monsoon.
After intermittent drizzle occurred in several places like Kadayanallur, Veeravanallur, Ambasamudram, Vickramasingapuram, Shencottai, Tenkasi, Pavoorchathram, Alangulam, Kalakkad, Nanguneri, Valliyoor, Panagudi and Kavalkinaru since Sunday evening, the sky remained overcast on Monday morning and the drizzle continued only in a few places.
The drizzle became widespread and strong in the evening. Catchment areas of Papanasam dam received 15 mm rainfall. Incessant drizzle continues in the catchment areas of other reservoirs too.
Thalaiyanai in Kalakkad, which remained dry since April, started receiving the first flood on Monday. Nambiyar in Tirukkurunkudi started receiving decent flow of water on Sunday.
Though sky remained overcast over the Western Ghats from Kanniyakumari district to Tirunelveli since Saturday evening, there was no flow of water in the waterfalls at Courtallam. As the Five Falls received water only on Monday morning and the Main Falls around 4 p.m., a small group of visitors, mostly locals, bathed in the waterfalls. The flow of water in the waterfalls increased in the evening.
“After a week-long delay, season at Courtallam has finally started, it seems.With intermittent drizzle, salubrious climate and gentle breeze, the season has started on a right note, I feel. Most of the traders here, who suffered hefty loss last year as the season was not so impressive, may compensate it this year,” said Senthur Pandian of Courtallam.
Rainfall recorded in the district in the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Monday was (in mm): Ambasamudram 23.40, Kodumudiyar dam 20, Radhapuram 17, Papanasam dam and Nambiyar dam 15 each, Cheranmahadevi 12.40, Shencottai and Gundar dam 12 each, Adavinainar dam 10, Tenkasi 7.30, Manimuthar dam 6.80, Karuppanadhi dam 6, Ramanadhi dam 5, Servalar dam 4, Palayamkottai 3.40, Tirunelveli and Aayikudi 3 each, Nanguneri 2 and Sankarankovil 1.
Several places in Kanniyakumari district witnessed decent precipitation. Rainfall recorded in the district was (in mm): Balamore 76, Kuzhithurai 74, Kozhiporevilai 65, Surulacode 64, Adaiyamadai 63, Anaikidangu 57, Kaliyal 53, Eraniel and Chittar I dam 49 each, Chittar II dam 46, Mullankinavilai and Thuckalay 43 each, Mambazhathuraiyar dam 40, Kannimar 37, Pechiparai 33, Kurunthancode 31, Kottaram 27, Myladi 26, Perunchani dam and Boothapandi 25 each, Colachel and Puthen dam 24 each, Poigai dam and Aralvaimozhi 19 each and Nagercoil 10.