TN fears more flooding from predicted rain

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu, like neighbour Kerala, is feared headed for another major natural disaster as the Met department has predicted heavy rainfall over the ghat regions again.

The department also says a new low pressure area is likely to develop over north Bay of Bengal on Sunday in wake of which heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over ghat areas of Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul and Tirunelveli districts.

Relief and rehabilitation activities are taking place in full swing.

Massive discharge of water from Mettur, Amaravathi and Bhavani sagar dams is into the Cauvery and Kollidam has forced the opening of these dams AND Consequent looding. WITH over two lakh Cusecs lowing In THE rivers, breaches have started to appear in the Kollidam.

The breaches were reported in Muttuvanchari and Anaikudi villages near Vikkiramanlingam, forcing evacuation of people to shelters.on Friday, T Palur and Tirumannur in Ariyalur were afFECTED Following A BREACH AND oficials had a tough time providing relief to the affected.

In Thanjavur, a damaged shutter of the regulator of an irrigation canal broke and water from Kollidam overlowed on to THE streets of THE KONTHAGAI Thattumal village near Papanasam, inundating farmlands.

Since Friday, Devala, Chinnakalar and Valparai have recorded rainfall of 11cm, 10cm and 8cm, respectively, with the southwest monsoon winds still active over Kerala, coastal, south interior Karnataka and Telangana.

Heavy rain continuing in the catchment areas of the river Cauvery, has INCREASED THE water Inlow Into Mettur Dam from 1.72 to 1.78 lakh cusecs while outlow HAS BEEN INCREASED From 1.75 to 1.9 lakh cusecs.

This has led to Mukkombu receiving 2.34 lakh Cusecs of water.

Tamil Nadu government on Saturday said that over 8,000 people have been EVACUATED From lood-prone AREAS of the state including Madurai and Theni districts and have been rehabilitated in camps.

Iin Namakkal alone, over 2,200 people have been rescued.

Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami will visit Erode on Sunday to assess THE lood situation THERE. HE will Also be handing over the relief materials to THE lood-hit AREAS.