Coimbatore: Heavy rain that lashed Mettupalayam and surrounding areas through the night into Wednesday morning caused waterlogging at several locations, uprooted trees on key roads and led to the collapse of a school compound wall onto nearby houses, even as water released from Pillur Dam into the Bhavani River continued to rise.
A large tree was uprooted and fell across the Mettupalayam-Ooty Road near Kallar, causing significant disruption to vehicular movement. Police, Fire and Rescue Services personnel and Highway Department workers reached the spot and commenced operations to cut up and remove the fallen tree.
Traffic was also affected on the Karamadai-Tholampalayam Road near Marudur after another tree was uprooted and fell across the carriageway. Personnel from the Highway Department and Fire and Rescue Services were deployed to clear the obstruction and facilitate the resumption of traffic.
Meanwhile, the heavy rainfall resulted in the collapse of the compound wall of a government school in the Cheran Nagar-2 area. The wall fell onto adjoining houses, though residents were reported to have escaped unharmed. Several houses in the locality were also affected after rainwater entered the premises, leaving residents facing considerable inconvenience.
The sustained rainfall has also increased the flow in the Bhavani River, with around 6,000 cusecs of water currently being released from the Pillur Dam into the river. With the dam's water level rising rapidly and expected to reach its full capacity of 100 feet, the volume of surplus water released downstream is also likely to increase.
In view of the rising water flow, residents in low-lying areas along the Bhavani River have been advised to remain vigilant and exercise caution.
