TIRUNELVELI: Kanyakumari and western parts of Tirunelveli district experienced rain on Wednesday with the arrival of south west monsoon, a day ahead of the forecast date. Almost all falls that remained dry hitherto, are in full spate in Courtallam in Tirunelveli district.
Kanyakumari district experienced widespread drizzle in several parts on Wednesday. There were thunder showers at Nagercoil and adjacent areas since this morning.
Eraniel, Marthandam and Kottaram in the district received heavy rain following which Thirparappu falls, popularly known as Kumari Courtallam’ was in spate. Tourists were disappointed as they were not allowed to take bath in the falls.
Balamore in Kanyakumari district registered the highest rainfall level of 143 mm on Wednesday. The copious rain in the catchment areas of Pechiparai and Perunchani increased inflow to the dams.
The water level at Pechiparai dam increased to 33 ft against its maximum storage capacity of 48 ft. The level at Pechiparai stood at 65.10 ft against its capacity of 77 ft. The level at the 143 ft Papanasam dam in western ghats in Tirunelveli district went up by three ft on Wednesday. The catchment areas of Papanasam registered 27 mm rain increasing the inflow to 2101.50 cusecs. The level at Papanasam on Wednesday was at 67.90 ft. Servalaru dam, with a capacity of 154 ft, experienced 9 mm rain. The inflow was 1900 cusecs.
At Servalaru, the level increased by 6.82 ft to reach 84.84 ft. Manimutharu dam in the district too received good rain and its level on Wednesday was 73.20 ft against its capacity of 118 ft. Farmers in Tirunelveli district were jubilant over the widespread rain and started Kar season cultivation. They thanked the Tamil Nadu government for ordering the release of water for paddy cultivation in around 2500 acres from Papanasam and Servalaru dams from June 9 (Thursday).
