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Tamil Nadu: Red alert in Coimbatore, Nilgiris after IMD forecasts heavy rain

COIMBATORE/MADURAI: The state government has issued red alert for Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts following IMD’s forecast that rain could intensify in the region on Saturday.


The two districts are already battered by four days of intermittent rain. Several hundred acres of agricultural and horticultural crops have been damaged.

Fields in many parts of the two districts are completely submerged in water. Heavy winds uprooted trees, disrupting power supply.

Gudalur, near Ooty, received 349 mm and Devala received 360 mm rain on Friday. Valparai in Coimbatore district received 230 mm rain.

The two districts are gearing up to prevent loss of life and damage to properties as rain is expected to intensify. IMD deputy director S Balachandran said red alert in Coimbatore district was mainly issued to the hilly regions bordering Kerala - Valparai and Anamalai area. There would be heavy rainfall and strong winds for the next 48 hours, he said.

More than 1,000 people have been accommodated in many relief camps in different parts of the Nilgiris district. Five relief camps are functional in Kundha taluk alone. RDO D Suresh Kumar said 26 huts were damaged in Kundha region. Eleven houses in a tribal hamlet at Pakkana in Pandalur taluk of the Nilgiris are marooned. NDRF, SDRF and fire and rescue personnel are engaged in rescue operation. There is a respite from gusty winds as of Friday evening.

Power was restored in Ooty after a gap of 48 hours. However, Missionary Hill, Havelock Road, Nondimedu and Doddabetta areas continue to be in darkness even after three days. Tangedco is replacing 100 electric poles, which were badly damaged when trees fell on them during gusty winds.

Many houses in Anamalai region in Coimbatore have not had power supply for the past five days.

Minister for municipal administration, S P Velumani and minister for animal husbandry, Udumalai Radhakrishnan inspected the rain affected areas in Gudalur taluk and Ooty town on Friday.

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