As southwest monsoon has set in in Kerala, Kanniyakumari district experienced heavy to moderate rain for the last few days.
Incessant rain that started on Thursday evening and continued till Friday morning forced the district administration to declare holiday for educational institutions, including colleges, on Friday.
Nagercoil, Aralvoimozhi, Thovalai, Marthandam, Kuzhithurai, Tiruvattar, Thuckalay, Kaliyakkavilai, Eraniel and catchment areas of major waterbodies experienced heavy rain. Balamore recorded the maximum rainfall of 72.3 mm.
Knee-deep water was flowing on WCC Road, Meenakshipuram, Kottar junction, Semmangudi Road, Chettikulam junction and around Tower Clock.
Vehicle users, especially two-wheeler riders, faced difficulty travelling on bumpy roads in Nagercoil and other places. As the sky remained overcast in the district, vehicles were moving with head lights on.
Reports were received that trees were uprooted at many places on Thursday night. The parapet of Nasamony flyover across Tamirabharani river was damaged when a coconut tree got uprooted and fell on it, local people said.
As the sea was rough, catamaran fishermen did not go for fishing and the fishermen who had ventured into the sea in mechanised boats for deep sea fishing returned to the shore.
Rivers flooding
The Valliyar, Paraliar, Kodayar, Suchindram and Kuzhithurai rivers flooded. At some places, water is flowing over culverts. Due to flooding of the Kodayar, bathing in Tirparappu waterfalls was banned for the third day on Friday.
Production in brick kilns in Therekalpudur, Thovalay and Aralvoimozhi has been affected. Similarly, due to stagnation of rainwater in salt pans, production of salt was also affected.
Water level in major dams has been increasing steadily for the last few days.
Water level in the dams (in feet) and inflow in cusecs (in brackets) at 8 a.m. on Friday were: Pechiparai 36.15 (1,387), Perunchani 68.5 (1,409), Chitrar I 11.45 (250), Chitrar II 11.54 (350), Poigai 17.80 and Mambazhathuraiaru 53.81 (13).
Rainfall recorded at various stations was (in mm): Nagercoil 53, Colachel 48.6, Surulode 42, Anaikkidangu 37, Puthenthurai 36.8, Kannimar 31.5, Boothapandi 29, Kurumbanai 25.4, Adayamadai and Mullanginavilai 25 each, Kozhiporvilai 18.4, Eraniel 16.2, Kottaram 12.6, Nilaparai 11, and Aralvoimozhi and Mylaudi 8.2 each, according to PWD sources.
