Tamil Nadu: Red alert in Kodaikanal as relentless rain floods homes and disrupts daily life

With the Northeast monsoon strengthening across Tamil Nadu a red alert has been put out in Kodaikanal keeping tourists away and resulting in popular spots in the hill station desertedThe endless downpour has not only affected the local hospitality and tourism sectors but has also severely created difficulties in the daily lives of residents in Dindigul district In the MoonjikkalDobikana Topikkanal area of Kodaikanal over 20 houses were flooded forcing residents to spend sleepless nights safeguarding their belongings and livestockLocal washermen whose livelihoods depend on daily work reported a total halt in their routine Rainwater has entered our homes and our livelihood is completely paralysed We request the municipality and the state government to build a retaining wall on both sides of the water channel to prevent this recurring issue Ganesan a local washerman told PTI VideosAnother resident Anita Mary a daily wage worker emphasized on the severe distress caused by the deluge stating that families were forced to remain awake through the night as water flooded their homes leaving them to scramble to save their domestic animalsResidents also expressed grave concern over a 30yearold bridge in the area that has developed cracks in the heavy rains The bridge serves as an important link for 600 to 700 families and provides access to the government playgroundLocals warned that if the structure collapses the neighbourhood would become isolated like an island completely cutting off emergency access for ambulances They urged authorities to urgently repair and raise the height of the bridgeMeanwhile the active monsoon has brought a significant surge in inflows to the states reservoirs In the neighbouring Theni district the water level at the Vaigai Dam in Andipatti reached the 50feet mark full depth 71 feet after a gap of nine months officials saidAndhra Pradesh on alert as Cyclone Arnab strengthens over Bay of BengalMeanwhile on Monday the IMD stated a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has strengthened into Cyclone Arnab and is likely to intensify into a very catastrophic cyclonic storm by October 27 before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast the following morningThe cyclone lay centred over the eastcentral and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal at 530 am on Monday moving westwards at 15 kmph during the preceding six hours as per the IMDs National Bulletin No 8The deep depression over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into Cyclone Arnab and is likely to strengthen further into a very severe cyclonic storm by October 27 before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast on the morning of October 28 said the Met department in an official press releaseThe system was located about 590 km northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman Islands 650 km eastsoutheast of Visakhapatnam 730 km eastsoutheast of Kakinada 830 km east of Machilipatnam and 910 km east of Bapatla it saidThe weather system is very likely to move westnorthwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the westcentral Bay of Bengal by midnight on Monday before strengthening further into a very severe cyclonic storm on October 27With inputs from PTI