Weather update: IMD issues orange alert for Tamil Nadu; school, colleges in THESE 4 districts to remain shut
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for several Tamil Nadu districts today i.e. on 18 December. As per IMD Chennai, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at one or two places over Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Tenkasi districts of Tamil Nadu while heavy rains have been predicted one or two places over Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Theni.
Amid heavy rains, the Tamil Nadu government has declared a holiday for all schools, colleges, private institutions, banks and financial institutions in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Kanyakumari and Tenkasi districts today. While in Virudhunagar district of the state, all types of schools are ordered to be closed today, as per the District collector.
Rainfall continued at night in the Thoothukudi district, and 40 lakes in the Kovilpatti area have reached their full capacity. Thoothukudi witnessed severe waterlogging due to heavy rainfall.
Due to this heavy rain, the rivers and lakes around Kovilpatti have reached their full capacity and the water is overflowing from the lakes.
Also, after the rainwater started flowing out of the river in the Koosalipatti and Inam Maniyachi areas, sandbags and JCB machines were used to stop the water.
“40 lakes in Kovilpatti Panchayat are full. Two lakes were damaged and we repaired them. We are continuously monitoring other lakes too. If there is a breach in the lake, we are ready to fix it immediately,” said Rajesh, District Development Officer, Thoothukkudi district.
In Thoothkudi district, taluka Srivaikuntam received 525 mm of rainfall on Sunday and a extremely heavy rainfall in the area is predicted. Moreover, Tiruchender, Sathankulam, Kayathar, Ottapidram are also expected to get extremely heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, flood-affected people in the Tirunelveli district moved to a shelter camp. A visual from the shelter home showed people lining up for ration.
(With agency inputs)
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Published: 18 Dec 2023, 06:25 AM IST
