TN Rains: Red alert in Nilgiris, inflows surge at Bhavani dam as monsoon intensifies
Chennai: With the early arrival of the southwest monsoon over Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu, several districts in the state are experiencing heavy to very heavy rainfall, and the weather is expected to remain intense until May 28.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued a Red Alert for Nilgiris district, warning of isolated extremely heavy rainfall on May 25 and 26. Heavy rain is also expected in districts like Coimbatore (ghat areas), Theni, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Dindigul, Kanniyakumari, and Tiruppur. Thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph are likely to accompany the rain.
Rainfall highlights (past 24 hours):
* Avalanche & Pandalur (Nilgiris): 11 cm
* Chinnakalar (Coimbatore): 9 cm
RMC Director B. Amudha stated that a low-pressure area is likely to form over the Bay of Bengal by May 27, which could increase rainfall across the southern peninsula.
In Chennai, moderate rain and thunderstorms are expected through May 28. Daytime temperatures are forecast to remain between 35°C and 37°C.
Rising water levels at LBP reservoir
The heavy rainfall in catchment areas, especially in the Nilgiris, has increased the inflow into the Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) Reservoir in Erode district.
* Inflow reached 4,792 cusecs by Sunday morning
* Water level rose to 70.38 feet
* Total storage now stands at 11.11 tmc feet
The LBP dam is vital for irrigation in Erode, Tiruppur, and Karur districts, supporting over three lakh acres of farmland. Until recently, only 100 cusecs of water were released due to low water levels, mainly for drinking purposes.
Farmers are now hopeful that irrigation water will soon be released, allowing them to prepare for the next cropping season. The Water Resources Department (WRD) is monitoring the situation and will manage inflows to ensure both safety and agricultural benefits.
Safety advisory
Authorities have advised residents in hilly and low-lying areas to stay vigilant and follow safety instructions issued by local administrations.
The risk of landslides, flash floods, and waterlogging is particularly high in vulnerable districts, especially in the Western Ghats region.
Disaster management teams are on standby, and officials are preparing for potential disruptions to travel, transport, and public utilities.
With the monsoon system expected to remain active, further forecasts regarding rainfall in June will be issued by the RMC after the formation of the anticipated low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal.
(IANS inputs)