Southern Tamil Nadu Grapples with Intense Rainfall and Thamirabarani Flood Alert

Well, folks, it’s quite a situation brewing down in southern Tamil Nadu. An urgent flood alert has just been sounded for everyone living along the picturesque Thamirabarani River. Why, you ask? Because the heavens have truly opened up, drenching the districts of Tirunelveli and Tenkasi with some seriously heavy rain, and it shows no sign of letting up just yet.

When we say heavy, we mean it. Imagine this: places like Manimuthar recorded a whopping 15 centimeters of rain, with Papanasam not far behind at 14 cm, all in just a 24-hour window ending Sunday morning. Servalar got a good soaking too, receiving 11 cm, while Kodayar and Gundar weren't spared, seeing 9 cm and 7 cm respectively. That’s a significant amount of water pouring down, and it's certainly making its presence felt in our reservoirs.

Speaking of reservoirs, the major dams are really swelling. Papanasam Dam, for instance, has already reached 124.90 feet against its full capacity of 143 feet. Manimuthar Dam is also looking rather full at 104.55 feet compared to its 118-foot maximum. Servalar Dam, too, stands at 122.34 feet. With such rapid inflows, authorities have had to make some tough decisions to manage the rising water. As of Sunday morning, they started releasing 5,400 cusecs from Papanasam and 5,000 cusecs from Manimuthar. And here’s the kicker: they anticipated ramping up those releases even further, potentially to 8,000 cusecs from Papanasam and 6,000 cusecs from Manimuthar, bringing the total discharge to a hefty 14,000 cusecs.

So, if you happen to reside anywhere near the banks of the Thamirabarani River, or if your fields are close by, please, please be extra vigilant. This is a serious reminder to stay safe and aware of your surroundings. The increase in water discharge means the river levels will rise noticeably and quickly. It's not a time to be complacent, that's for sure.

And it's not just Tirunelveli and Tenkasi feeling the brunt. Other southern districts like Kanniyakumari, Theni, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Madurai, Sivaganga, and Dindigul have also received substantial rainfall. The Gundar River, for example, is experiencing increased flow, a direct consequence of this widespread downpour. It seems the entire region is under a cloud, literally and figuratively.

Interestingly, while many rivers are surging, the Vaigai River in Madurai, a lifeline for many, is still running quite low. Its water level currently sits at a modest 27.50 feet. However, with the forecast predicting more rain in its catchment areas over the next couple of days, that situation could change quite rapidly. Fingers crossed, it receives much-needed inflow without causing any undue hardship.

Looking ahead, the India Meteorological Department has issued a forecast for the next 24 to 48 hours. They're predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated pockets of Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Kanniyakumari districts. So, the message is clear: stay alert, stay safe, and keep an eye on those local advisories. This wet spell is definitely here to stay for a little while longer.