The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Storage in tanks rises; fishing operations hit

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Storage in tanks rises; fishing operations hit

Staff Reporter

Low-lying areas inundated as rain lashes Tuticorin districts

— Photos: N. Rajesh

Boon and bane:Water stagnating on the road damaged by rain at Toovipuram Fifth Street in Tuticorin.

Tuticorin: The district witnessed widespread rainfall in the recent days. As drizzling continued on Thursday morning, the weather remained chill. The rainfall provided respite from sultry weather conditions and people were ecstatic. Low-lying areas were inundated. Roadways and streets were waterlogged. Vehicular traffic was affected. Schools functioned on Thursday.

Shops were inaccessible to the public as water was found stagnating in front of outlets. Many tanks were filled with rainwater. With copious inflow into tanks in various parts of the district, farmers heaved a sigh of relief. Out of the 53 system tanks, 44 were brimming.

The farmers dependent on water from such tanks for cultivating rain-fed crops were hopeful of a better scenario. As far as the rain-fed tanks were concerned, water level reached maximum level in 57 out of 128 tanks. Besides, water level in 57 tanks had reached the halfway mark, sources from the Department of Agriculture said. The salt pans suffered a blow. Most of the mechanised fishing boats remained off the shore as fishermen did not venture into the sea.

Permit tokens from the fishing harbour for fishing were provided to 54 boats but only 29 ventured into the sea while the rest returned. Besides, fishing by country boats was suspended. “Eleven houses in Tiruchendur, five in Ettayapuram and one in Tiruchendur were reportedly damaged following the rain on Thursday. Rainfall had claimed three lives so far. While two of them were struck dead by lightning, the other one was a victim of wall collapse.

Fifty seven houses had been damaged so far,” K. Sivan, Personal Assistant to Collector (General), said here on Thursday. A maximum of 38 mm rainfall was recorded in Vanchchi Maniyatchi. Rainfall recorded in mm in other parts of the district include Kulasekarapatnam – 37; Kadalkudi – 30; Kovilpatti – 30; Vilathikulam – 27; Surangudi – 26; Tuticorin – 25.80; Tiruchendur – 25; Kayalpatnam – 22; Ettayapuram – 21; Kayathar – 20; Vaipar – 20; Kadambur – 16; Sathankulam – 15; Vedanatham – 15; Srivaikuntam – 14; Keelaarasadi – 12.50; Ottapidaram – 12.10 and Kalugumalai – 10.

Nagercoil

Heavy rain lashed different parts of the district on Thursday causing great difficulties to school and office goers.

According to sources, the district administration had prohibited both foreign and domestic tourists from taking bath in Thirparappu Falls as the flow of water was heavy. The inflow into Pechipparai, Perunchani, Chittar I and Chittar II dams had been on the rise. People living in low-lying areas had been asked to move to safer places.

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