The river breached its embankment on Sunday morning, flooding low-lying areas of Uthamapalayam, Veerapandi, Uppukottai, and Palanikettipatti. As the water level rose, homes, farmland, and roads were quickly submerged.
तमिलनाडु: कुदरत का कहर, भारी बारिश से फसलें तबाह, कई गांव डूबे, मुल्लापेरियार नदी उफान पर
Torrential rains and the overflowing Mullaperiyar River inundated several villages in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district, causing widespread devastation and distress.
River embankment breaches, flooding several villages
A river embankment breach on Sunday morning flooded low-lying areas in Uthamapalayam, Veerapandi, Uppukottai, and Palanichattipatti. As the water level rose, homes, fields, and roads were rapidly submerged.
Villagers flee, temple road closed
Locals reported that floodwaters reached residential areas within hours, forcing many families to flee to higher ground. The road leading to the famous Veerapandi Gowmariamman Temple was completely washed away, cutting off access to the temple and nearby settlements.
Farmers suffer heavy losses, crops submerged
More than 200 acres of paddy fields ready for harvest were submerged, and standing crops of bananas, coconuts, and maize were also destroyed. R. Raman, a farmer from Veerapandi, looked at his submerged fields in disbelief, saying, “We were preparing for harvesting next week, but everything is ruined.”
Snakes and wild animals enter villages
Residents reported that snakes and wild animals swept into the villages in the floodwaters, further fueling panic. Malathi, a resident of Uthamapalayam, said, “It’s very scary, especially for families with children. We can’t even go out without fear.”
Relief and rescue operations underway
Several houses in Anjaneya Nagar, near Palanichettypalayam, were submerged, prompting a dramatic rescue operation by the Fire and Rescue Services Department.
Rescue teams rescued trapped residents late into the night using JCB machines and boats. Locals blamed the authorities’ lack of preparedness for the severity of the disaster. Another resident said, “If precautionary measures had been taken when the water level rose, we wouldn’t have suffered so much today.”
Administration engaged in relief work
Officials from the Theni district administration stated that relief and rescue operations are in full swing, and temporary shelters are being set up in schools and public buildings. However, as heavy rains continue to lash the area, further flooding remains a possibility.
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