In the wake of heavy rainfall in the Nilgiris district, ten locations along the Coonoor-Mettupalayam National Highway and the Kothagiri-Mettupalayam Highway, which were impacted by landslides and mudslides, have been cleared of debris, allowing the restoration of traffic flow on Friday (November 24).
Landslides on Thursday prompted the closure of the Mettupalayam-Coonoor route, diverting motorists to the Mettupalayam-Kotagiri route. Over the past 24 hours, Mettupalayam in Coimbatore district received the season’s highest rainfall at 373 mm, with Nilgiris recording 369.9 mm, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
Heavy showers likely in Nilgiris, Coimbatore districts
Director of the Chennai Regional Meteorology Department, Balachandran, warned of further heavy showers in Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts in the coming days. He stated, “Several areas in these two districts received heavy rainfall over the last 24 hours,” adding that 45 locations recorded heavy rainfall, 8 experienced very heavy rainfall, and 2 faced extremely heavy rainfall.
While light to moderate rainfall is expected in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the Nilgiris and Coimbatore districts are forecasted to receive heavy rainfall over the next two to three days.
Indian Railways suspended train services on Nilgiri Mountain Rail Route
In response to the adverse weather conditions, Indian Railways suspended train services on the Nilgiri Mountain Rail Route (NMR) between Coonoor and Mettupalayam.
A mudslide at Hillguro between Kallar and Runnimedu, caused by persistent wet weather, led to the blockage of the railway track. With the Meteorological Department predicting more rain in the region, the mountain train service was canceled as a precautionary measure.
The district collector for the Nilgiris declared a holiday for all government and private schools in Coonoor and Kotagiri on Friday due to the heavy rainfall. Looking ahead, the Chennai Meteorological Department anticipates the development of a cyclonic circulation over the South Andaman Sea and its surroundings around November 25th. Light to moderate rains are expected to persist across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal on Friday, according to the IMD.