VELLORE: Flash floods inundated the villages of Thennancholai and Patchakuppam in Vellore district and several hundred other villages have been adversely affected by incessant rains.
Around 50 families of Thennancholai hamlet of Genganallur village near Anaicut on Tuesday were evacuated following flash floods caused by the Appukkal River to a marriage hall in the vicinity. Flash floods have also been reported in Palar near Patchakuppam near Ambur caused by water from Kattar.
The district administration has also issued a flood alert in the vicinity along the Palar River around Arcot and advised people living along the riverbed to move to safe locations.
The Arakkonam-Chennai Road near Tiruvalankadu and the Arakkonam-Vellore Road near Nemili has been closed to traffic with heavy water currents across the roads. An NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) team from Arakkonam failed to retrieve a stranded private bus from the Thakkolam surface bridge across Kosasthalaiyar.
Officials claim that 432 revenue villages have been affected from incessant rain with a total of 1,779 houses damaged. Of these, 214 thatched huts were totally damaged. The rains have so far claimed the lives of 18 persons, including six women, in the district since November 9 in the district. A total of 29 livestock were also killed during this time.
In Vellore City too, houses in Kansalpet, Mullipalayam and Vazhantharamam were flooded and Fire Service personnel evacuated around 150 families to safety. Officials provided food and other necessary assistance.
Crops damaged in villupuram
Villupuram: Heavy rains and the resultant floods damaged houses, crops and a veterinary hospital building in Villupuram district on Monday. Flood alert has been sounded in villages along the South Pennai river, which is in spate after the Sathanur Dam was opened. According to sources, Villupuram received 13.5 cm rain in 24 hours since Monday morning. Water-level in the South Pennai river increased after the sluice gates were opened in Sathanur dam on Tuesday evening. Collector issued a flood alert on villages along the banks of South Pennai river. Paddy crops in nearly 40 acres in Marakkanam, Kiliyanur and Kazhuveli, which were about to be harvested, were destroyed because of water stagnation.
causeways washed away
Cuddalore: Heavy rainfall and the resultant floods damaged roads and washed away many causeways in the district on Monday. Though there was not much rain on Tuesday, floodwater did not recede in many areas, causing difficulty to residents. The causeway across Gadilam River at Thirumanikuzhi village was washed away forcing its residents to take a detour to reach the main road. Similarly, the causeway across Manimutharu River was damaged at Paravalur disconnecting traffic movement to nearly 20 villages. The district administration has issued flood alert to villages situated on the banks of Thenpennai River. The water-level was expected to increase further.
Vaigai 66 ft; alert in Madurai, theni
Madurai: The public works department have issued first flood alerts in Madurai, Theni and Dindigul districts on Tuesday after the water level in Vaigai reservoir reached 66 feet against the dam’s capacity of 71 feet. Madurai region PWD Chief Engineer P L Valliappan told Express that due to incessant rains, of the of the 7,559 tanks in 9 districts of the Madurai region, 2,915 tanks had been filled and 17 of the 32 reservoirs in the Madurai region had reached maximum capacity. “166 tanks at Madurai, 50 tanks at Theni, 20 tanks at Dindigul, 925 tanks at Tirunelveli and 1539 Tanks in Kanyakumari district had surpassed maximum capacity,” he added.