Kodaikanal completely cut off, life thrown out of gear in Kumari
MADURAI: The North East monsoon continued to lash in parts of southern districts all through the day beginning from Sunday night. The incessant spell in parts of Kanniyakumari threw normal life out of gear and the heavy downpour has battered the lives of people in Kodaikanal with landslides cutting access to the region.
The rain has caused landslips at 43 locations in parts of Kodaikanal in Dindigul district, among which five were major but fortunately no one was injured, sources said. The heavy rain also caused damages to the roads. The downpour level stood at 43 mm on Monday morning, according to sources.
According to T Vijayakumar, Assistant Divisional Engineer of Highways, Construction and Maintenance, landslips in Kodaikanal were reported in the Adukkam stretch that connects the hill station with Periyakulam.
Moreover, two more landslides were reported at Thamarikulam near Adukkam, cutting access to the region. With the aid of four earthmovers restoration works were carried out. However, the officials still find it challenging to remove the big rocks and are planning to use rock blasting techniques to clear the site at Thamaraikulam, sources revealed. Normalcy in the stretch could be restored only after two days, they added.
Currently people use the alternative under-construction road in Adukkam to reach their fields in Thamraikulam and Samakadu but the stretch is yet to be opened for vehicular traffic. The District Administration has declared holidays for schools in Kanniyakumari, sources said. The showers due to the NE monsoon were also experienced in the catchments areas along the Western Ghats.