Heavy rain alert issued for 16 TN districts as downpour disrupts normal life
Chennai, June 3
The India Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rain alert for 16 districts of Tamil Nadu for Wednesday and Thursday, even as widespread showers battered several parts of the state, causing flooding, power disruptions, property damage and injuries.
According to the weather department, heavy rainfall is likely in Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Theni, Tiruppur, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Dindigul, Kanniyakumari, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tirupattur, Vellore, Ranipet and Tiruvannamalai districts over the next two days.
The IMD also said conditions remain favourable for the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala on Thursday.
The warning comes after heavy rain affected several districts across Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. In Namakkal district, rainwater entered the premises of the government hospital near the old bus stand in Rasipuram, forcing patients and their relatives to wade through knee-deep water.
Waterlogging was also reported around the new bus stand market area, disrupting business activity.
In Tirupattur district, hailstorms were reported in Ambur, Alangkuppam and Periyankuppam. Strong winds accompanying the rain uprooted trees at several locations. A Poovarasu tree fell on a house near the Nagalamman Temple in Vinnamangalam, while a large banyan tree collapsed onto the Dandu Mariamman Temple.
Tiruvannamalai district witnessed more than three hours of heavy rain in Arani, Savur, Kunnathur and Kamakkur, resulting in power outages and disruption to normal life. In Melnagar village, a tamarind tree fell on a moving mini-bus, injuring more than ten passengers, including the driver.
Heavy showers were also recorded in Tiruppur, Erode, Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Sivaganga and Dindigul districts. Several roads were inundated, while power supply was disrupted in parts of Madurai, including Mattuthavani, Periyar Bus Stand, Simmakkal, Melur, Thirumangalam and the airport area.
In the hill station of Kodaikanal, dense fog descended suddenly during the evening hours, accompanied by light rain. Visibility dropped sharply across several parts of the town and along major hill roads, creating near-nighttime conditions during the day.
For Chennai, the weather department has forecast partly cloudy skies with the possibility of moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms in some areas of the city.
— IANS
Reader Comments
We've been tracking this weather pattern from the IMD bulletins here in Coimbatore. Our district is on the list, and we're seeing clouds building up since last evening. The last time we had this kind of alert in 2021, it caused landslides in some areas near Valparai. Let's hope the drainage systems hold up this time. Stay safe, everyone! 🌧️
The government needs to explain why the Rasipuram hospital was not protected from flooding. This is a government building! If even basic infrastructure like a hospital can get flooded, what about our homes? The tree falling on the moving bus in Melnagar shows how dangerous these rains are. Urgent tree trimming and drainage clearing should be done before the monsoon full sets in.
I'm in Madurai and the power disruption at Mattuthavani area is no joke. My friend lives near Periyar Bus Stand and their area was without electricity for 3 hours last night. The waterlogging near the market areas is also impacting small traders who rely on daily sales. Hope the authorities can quickly deploy pumps and restore power in these critical zones. Jahapanah, what a start to the monsoon! 🌩️
Dense fog in Kodaikanal during monsoon is quite common but this sounds unusually severe. Visibility dropping to near-nighttime conditions mid-afternoon is dangerous for hill road travelers. Tourists planning a trip to the hill stations should reconsider. The IMD alert is timely—I just hope local authorities act on it and not just issue warnings.
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