Coimbatore: Kodiveri anicut in Erode district, Monkey (Kaviaruvi) Falls in Coimbatore and other waterfalls have been closed after water flow increased following incessant rain.
The Water Resources Department on Thursday imposed a ban on bathing in Kodiveri anicut, located at least 15 kilometres away from Gobichettipalayam in Erode district, as a safety measure after heavy rain in Bhavanisagar and Sathyamangalam areas led to flooding at the anicut, which was constructed across the Bhavani river.
Mettupalayam, Karamadai, Sirumugai and surrounding areas, as well as various parts of Coimbatore city and Sulur, were inundated in the rain.
The urban areas in Mettupalayam received rain on Thursday afternoon. Initially, it was drizzling, which turned into heavy rain, which lasted for at least three hours. Low-lying areas in ward 11 were surrounded by rainwater, which also entered some of the houses in the locality. The entire road was flooded with rainwater, and traffic was affected for a while. Mettupalayam municipality officials took steps to drain the rainwater from the residential areas.
While there was no rain in Coimbatore city in the morning, some areas on Thadagam Road, Saibaba Colony, Venkittapuram, Kovilmedu, Edaiyarpalayam, Kavundampalayam, Vadavalli and surrounding areas received heavy rain in the afternoon. Rain lashed Gandhipuram, Coimbatore railway station and Sivananda Colony areas as well.
Due to heavy rain in the western ghats in the Pollachi forest division in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, the Kaviaruvi (Monkey Falls) had flooded two days ago, forcing the forest department to impose a ban on bathing at the falls until further notice.