Kanniyakumari under water

Paddy, coconut, rubber plantations affected by heavy rain

Following the heavy rain in Kanniyakumari district over the last several days, all villages, including areas like the Pechiparai dam and Cape Comorin, have been submerged in rainwater. The three major rivers — Palyar, Valliyar and Thamirabharani — are in spate, and their water has entered main thoroughfares and neighbouring villages, especially after the rain on Friday night and the release of excess water from dams.

Paddy, coconut, banana and rubber, grown on thousands of acres, have been submerged. A total of 18,000 cusecs from Pechipari, 20,000 cusecs from Perunchani and 2,000 cusecs from Chittaru were released. The average rainfall on Sunday was 109.53 mm.

Revenue Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, who inspected the affected areas, said that as the Poigai dam had reached its capacity, water released from it had entered waterbodies in Chenbagaramanputhur, Thellanthi and Thirupathisaram and breached them. “The water flooded the neighbouring villages. Similarly, a breach in the lake at Thovalai flooded the low-lying areas,” he said.