Rain lashes Vellore, nearby districts

Ranipet Collector J.U. Chandrakala inspected irrigation tanks that are getting filled up faster due to continuous rain in Ranipet on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Incessant rain lashed in many parts of Vellore town including the Benguluru Highway (NH: 44) and neighbouring big towns like Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Arani, Gudiyatham, Tiruvannamalai town, Chengam, Polur and Tirupattur town on Thursday.

Low lying areas like Sampath Nagar and Kansalpet in Old Town within Vellore Corporation limits, were inundated due to continuous rain. Frequent power cuts were also reported in many areas in Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur and Tiruvannamalai districts due to non-stop rains throughout the day. 

Among districts, Tiruvannamalai has received the highest rainfall with a total rainfall of 274 mm, followed by Ranipet with 124.70 mm and Vellore (84.60 mm). Among major towns, Vandavasi in Tiruvannamalai district received the highest rainfall of 39 mm, followed by Chetpet (36 mm) and Cheyyar (30 mm) in Tiruvannamalai as of 8.30 a.m on Thursday.

Crop damage was also reported in farming areas like Sholinghur, Thimir, Kaveripakkam in Ranipet where a large tract of land was under paddy cultivation. In terms of livestock and property loss, 34 houses were damaged and 16 cattle, mostly cows, died in Tiruvannamalai district due to rain. 

A 25-year-old M. Rajesh, an electrician, was electrocuted when he switched on the motor to take bath near Renugambal temple in Kalarkudisai village near Arcot town in Ranipet on Thursday. Thimiri police investigating the incident, happened around 5 a.m.

Water bodies in these districts are also filling up faster. Currently, 4,167 water bodies including 1,119 Minor Irrigation (MI) that are maintained by WRD are located in these districts. Of the total 697 tanks in Tiruvannamalai, 363 tanks reached 100% full capacity and 117 tanks (50% capacity). Among 369 tanks in Ranipet, 153 tanks reached its total capacity and 42 tanks reached 50% of its total storage.

Flood alert to 14 villages along the bank of Thenpennai river has been issued by the Water Resources Department (WRD) as 13,000 cusecs of water per second is being released from the Sathanur dam in Tiruvannamalai on Thursday, after the level reached 117.40 feet as against the dam’s total capacity of 119 feet.

Temple authorities have temporarily suspended the rope car service at the Sri Lakshminarasimhar temple in Sholinghur town near Ranipet on Thursday due to rain. The rope car in the temple, maintained by Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE), used to operate between 8.30 a.m and 5 p.m on all days including Sundays.

Helplines for rain related complaints have also been issued. 0416-2258016 or 9384056214 (Vellore); 04194-229008 or 222111 (Tirupatur); 04175-232377 (Tiruvannamalai) and 04172 – 271766 (Ranipet).