MADURAI/NELLAI/TIRUPUR: Heavy rain in the catchment areas for the third consecutive day on Sunday increased the inflow into the Vaigai dam to 8,400 cusecs with the officials maintaining the flood alert issued for the dam in the first week of November.The water level in the dam stood at 68.18 feet compared to total capacity of 71 feet, district officials told Express.According to PWD’s Executive Engineer of the Periyar main canal division, Selvarajan, all 1,072 tanks under the division filled up on Sunday. Authorities said that about 90 tanks on the Periyar-Vaigai division filled up following heavy rain.Officials said that both inflow into and outflow from the dam was 8400 cusecs.Meanwhile, a heavy contingent of police personnel were posted along the banks of river Vaigai to prevent any flood related incidents.In Rameswaram, over 300 huts were surrounded by flood waters here on Saturday night following rain.A number three cyclone warning was issued at the harbour in Pamban following squally winds and fishermen were advised against venturing into the sea.Indira Nagar, Merkodu, Munisamy Nagar Street, Gandhi Nagar and Big Market areas saw heavy water logging.Heavy rain resulted in numerous minor landslides along the Bodimedu hill road forcing authorities to halt traffic for over eight hours to initiate relief works.Authorities said a number of hairpin turns along the hill road were affected by the mudslide. Giant earth movers were pressed into service to remove the debris and help of the local people was sought.In Tirunelveli, flood alert in the Thamirbarani river has been extended to another 24 hours. District Collector R Selvaraj told Express that as rain level came down on Sunday, water has started to drain out from low-lying areas. But if rain lashed on Sunday night, Thamirabarani river would be at spate. “Considering this situation, we extendedanother 24 hours flood warning. Now, 189 people stayed at schools at Mukudal and Meenakshipuram and Kailasapuram in Tirunelveli,” he said.Of the irrigation tanks, 10 per cent tanks attained full water level. Papansasam recorded highest rainfall of 154 mm in the district.At Mela Seval area, four persons got caught in the gushing waters from the Thamarabarani river. On information, fire and rescue services personnel from Cheranmahadevi and Palayamkottai fire stations rushed to the spot around midnight. They were rescued on Sunday morning using rubber boats.In Tirupur district, flood alert was issued on Sunday for the villages along the Amaravathi River as the Amaravathi Dam is expected to touch its full reservoir capacity. Official sources said the water level touched 85 feet in the evening against the full capacity of 90 feet. Due to heavy rains in the catchment areas, the dam received more than 10,000 cusecs of water per second in the last two days. On Sunday, it got 5,600 cusecs of water per second. With the rains continuing, excess water would be released from the dam at any time. So the Revenue and Public Works Department officials issued a flood alert in the villages along the Amaravathi River. The authorities also asked the residents of the low-lying areas in the region to vacate to safer places.
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