Tamil Nadu Sees Widespread Heavy Rain as Erode Records 156 mm

Heavy rainfall battered Erode district in western Tamil Nadu on Thursday night, inundating residential neighbourhoods, flooding shops and disrupting traffic after Erode city recorded 156 mm of rainfall in five hours. The intense downpour, which lasted from 7 pm to midnight, left several roads waterlogged, hampered pedestrian movement and raised concerns over drainage capacity as the northeast monsoon intensified.

Meenakshi Sundaranar Road, the Old Municipal Corporation market area, the Central Bus Stand and Erode Fort were among the affected locations. Rainwater entered shops in low-lying areas, while local reports said sewage-mixed water inundated homes in Veerappanchatram. More than 10 houses on Periya Kuttai Street were reportedly affected, along with a hospital, pharmacy and several shops. Residents also raised concerns about recurring flooding following changes in road levels associated with Sathy Road expansion.

According to rainfall figures published by the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Agency (TNSDMA), Erode ranked third among 50 stations listed in the October 16 chart, which recorded rainfall up to 8.30 am. Adayamadai in Kanniyakumari district received 179.6 mm, followed by Chithirankodu with 157.2 mm.

Pradeep John, popularly known as Tamil Nadu Weatherman (@praddy06), forecast widespread rainfall across northern and interior districts, including Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruppur, Kallakurichi, Villupuram, Salem and Dharmapuri. He also forecast rain in Madurai, Dindigul, Perambalur, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Tiruchirappalli and Ariyalur. For Chennai, he highlighted the importance of rainfall over lake catchment areas. These were independent forecasts, separate from official India Meteorological Department (IMD) warnings of further heavy rainfall in parts of Tamil Nadu.

Ahead of the monsoon, the state government reviewed flood preparedness, while Erode Corporation undertook desilting along Pichaikaran Pallam Odai, Sunnambu Odai and other watercourses.