In the wake of torrential rains on Friday, the Nilgiris district administration has urged tourists to postpone their travel plans until after May 20 due to safety concerns. The region is expecting very heavy rainfall from May 18 to 20, with the India Meteorological Department issuing an “orange alert” predicting 6 cm to 20 cm of rain.
District Collector M. Aruna emphasised the importance of visitor safety and advised postponing travel to the hilly area. Following a meeting with officials from various departments, the administration announced preparedness measures, including the deployment of nearly 3,500 disaster response personnel and the setup of approximately 450 temporary shelters.
Tragically, the heavy downpour has already caused flash floods in Tenkasi district, resulting in the death of a 17-year-old boy at the Old Courtallam waterfall. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai has warned of increased rainfall activity across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal over the next five days. The forecast includes light to moderate rainfall in many areas, with isolated heavy to very heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds.
Residents and tourists are advised to stay indoors and monitor weather updates to ensure safety. The bulletin also predicts heavy rain in various districts, urging caution and preparedness during this period.
