NAGERCOIL: The rivers in Kanyakumari district were in spate due to incessant rains, thereby inundating many low lying areas and cutting off traffic on major highways on Wednesday.
On Tuesday night, the dams, including Pechiparai and Perunchani, filled to their full capacity and over 30,000 cusecs of surplus water was discharged from the dams.
Due to which, rivers in the district were in spate, resulting in many areas being cut off on Wednesday.
As the Pazhayar river was overflowing near Ozhuginasery bridge at Nagercoil, water inundated the TirunelveliNagercoil highway, cutting off traffic on both sides of the road. Passengers from either sides were stranded, unable to reach their destinations.
The road is the main highway connecting Nagercoil to Tirunelveli and other parts of Tamil Nadu.
Kannan, recalled that, "in November 1992, the road at Ozhuginesery was inundated with flood waters, thereby affecting traffic for a week."
A college lecturer from CSI Institute of Technology, Thovalai, said students, who had gone to the college were unable to return to Nagercoil.
An old woman said, "the residents were witnessing floods here after around 20 years."
Huts, houses and commercial establishments were surrounded by sheets of water.
Fire and Rescue Service personnel and others were involved in rescuing people.
Meanwhile, at Netravilai area, many houses in villages, including Mankkadi, Maamugam, Panamugam and Virivilai, were inundated as Thamarabarani river was in spate.
The affected people were rescued. Minister Suresh Rajan visited the affected areas.