Udhgamandalam, Tamil Nadu:
Heavy rains continued to lash the hilly Nilgiris District in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday damaging seven houses in Gudalur and Pandalur areas, prompting officials to evacuate 12 families to safer places.
Seven houses were totally damaged in Nadugani, Ponnur and Thattakolli, while fearing such collapses, 43 members of 12 houses in the areas were evacuated and sheltered in a school in Gudalur, official sources said.
District administration declared a holiday on Tuesday to all educational institutions in Gudalur and Pandalur area.
Meanwhile, four flood gates of Pilloor Dam in Coimbatore District were opened in the morning to release surplus water into Bhavani River and people residing on its bank in Mettupalayam, Sirumugai and Thekkapatti were asked to move to safer places.
Water level in the dam has reached 98 feet on Monday night against its maximum of 100 feet and water was released from 4.30 AM to 9 AM, they said, adding the flood gates were last opened three years back.
Pollachi and Valparai areas in Coimbatore District were also experiencing moderate to heavy rains for the last 10 days, resulting in filling of dams and tanks, they said.
Water level in Azhiyar dam, with a maximum level of 120 feet, near Pollachi has reached nearly 70 feet and with copious rains in the catchment area it is expected to increase in the next few days.
The hilly Valparai has recorded incessant rains for the last 10 days and holiday had been declared for two days for educational institutions.
The workers in some tea estate were also asked not to report for work due to the rains, official sources said.