Even as the catchment areas of almost all reservoirs in Tirunelveli district continued to experience rainfall, intermittent drizzle resurfaced in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts on Thursday night to inundate low-lying areas.
After the catchment areas of Papanasam and Manimuthar dams registered a rainfall of 26 mm and 10 mm respectively till Friday morning, both the dams had heavy influx of water.
While 14,000 cusecs of water was discharged from Papanasam dam, over 18,000 cusecs of water was released from Manimuthar dam.
Manjolai estate area above Manimuthar dam received 197 mm rainfall.
Surplus water from Gadana (867 cusecs), Ramanadhi (89 cusecs), Karuppanadhi (210 cusecs), Gundar (12 cusecs), Vadakku Pachaiyar (564 cusecs), Kodumudiyar (100 cusecs), Nambiyar (1,000 cusecs) and Adavinainar (42 cusecs) dams is discharged as they are brimming with water.
The Tamirabharani swelled once again with the huge quantity of water released into it and inundated Karuppanthurai causeway connecting Melapalayam and Tirunelveli Town around 2 p.m.
Police stopped vehicular traffic on this stretch and cautioned the people through public address system against moving on the causeway.
Discharge from Manimuthar and Papanasam dams was reduced since 12 noon as there was no rainfall in the catchment areas.
As the Big Tank at NGO New Colony in Palayamkottai overflowed following overnight rain, rainwater inundated RTO office-Aavin milk processing unit road and entered several houses.
Assistant Executive Engineer (Melapalayam Zone) L.K. Baskar and ward councillor Joseph visited the area and took steps for draining water into the channel taking rainwater to Veinthankulam.
Major portions of three houses at Narasinganallur, Kunnathur and Tiruppanikarisalkulam collapsed in the early hours of Friday due to rains, injuring three persons. They were admitted to hospital.
Collector M. Karunakaran has warned the public against taking bath in the Tamirabharani and going near the watercourse. Those living close to the river have been advised to move to safety. The police have deployed personnel at Karuppanthurai, Kurichi, Kokkirakulam, Sindhupoondurai and North Bypass Road with safety gears to rescue victims, in case of emergency.
Water level in dams (in feet) was (maximum level in bracket): Servalar 145.90 (156), Gadana 83.50 (85), Ramanadhi 82 (84), Karuppanadhi 70.86 (72), Gundar 36.10 (36.10), Vadakku Pachaiyar 49.20 (50), Nambiyar 22.96 (25), Kodumudiyar 52.50 (57) and Adavinainar 132 (142).
Rainfall recorded in the district was (in mm): Nanguneri 46, Radhapuram 39, Kodumudiyar dam 27, Papanasam upper dam 26, Nambiyar dam 22, Palayamkottai 16.40, Papanasam lower dam 16, Alangulam 14.20, Tirunelveli and Ambasamudram 14, Cheranmahadevi, Servalar and Karuppanadhi dams 13, Aayikudi 10.20, Manimuthar dam 10, Shencottai and Adavinainar dam 4, Gadana dam 3, Sankarankovil, Gundar and Ramanadhi dam 2 and Sivagiri 1.
