Despite heavy rains in catchment areas, the Forest Department has continued to allow tourists to visit Jalagamparai and Bheeman falls in Tirupattur and Tiruvannamalai districts respectively.
Among the major catchment areas, Jamunamarathur atop the hills in Tiruvannamalai received 118 mm of rainfall as of 8.30 a.m. on Sunday. Tirupattur district has recorded a total rainfall of 374.20 mm. Several streets in key towns like Ambur, Vaniyambadi and Jolarpet in Tirupattur were inundated.
In Vellore, Anaicut region, which is located at the foothills of Jawadhu Hills, received highest rainfall of 50 mm as of 8.30 a.m. on Sunday. The region is also home for Amirthi zoo. Forest officials said that flash floods were also reported in a few streams and tributaries of Palar river in Anaicut region due to the rain. “We are closely watching water flow in the hills. Nevertheless, tourists are allowed to visit the falls in the hills in specified areas,” Prabhu, forest range officer (Jamunamarathur), told The Hindu.
