Avalanche near Ooty registers 405 mm of rain

OOTY: Avalanche near here, registered a record 405 mm rainfall on Wednesday morning, a new record for highest rainfall in a single day during the SW monsoon in the Nilgiris.

Education institutions in Gudalur, Pandalur and Kundah taluks were closed for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, while in Ooty taluk schools and colleges were closed on Wednesday for the second consecutive day, as heavy rains continued unabated in central and western Nilgiris.

So far, registering of 384.6 mm of rainfall on 4-7-1901 in Gudalur was the record for heaviest rainfall in 24 hours in SW monsoon season in the Nilgiris. Now, Avalanchee, which continued to receive heavy rainfall since Sunday, entered a sort of creating 'rainfall record' by registering 405 mm rains by the 24 hours time ending 8 am on Wednesday.

Rainfall recorded in other places in the Nilgiris is as follows:-
Upper Bhavnai - 220 mm, Naduvattam - 119 mm, Devala - 106 mm, Emerald - 103 mm, Glenmorgan - 101 mm, Gudalur - 97mm, Ooty - 50 mm, Kundah - 46 mm and Kotagiri - 30mm.

While there are minor damages to roads in a couple of places, the uprooting of trees in a few places  and electric poles in some areas were reported across the Nilgiris. The damaged power lines in the Parson's Valley reservoir sector hindered supply of water to Ooty town.

While the pouring rains brought cheers to water managers and plantation sector, the water-logging in hill vegetable fields has become a cause of concern for vegetable growers here as the incessant rains may play spoil-sport with the standing hill vegetable crops.

As rains are predicted for the next couple of days, the district administration in the Nilgiris is in a state of high alert.