Two women killed, 1 injured due to heavy rains in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Two women workers were on Thursday killed at an estate in Nilgiris district in a rain-related incident even as many parts of Tamil Nadu were lashed by a downpour under the influence of a well-marked low pressure over the Arabian sea.

The two women were working at an estate near Pandalur, about 70 kms from Udhagamandalam when a huge tree uprooted and fell on them, killing them on the spot. Another woman worker who was injured, has been hospitalised, official sources said. Nilgiris district has been experiencing incessant rains since the last three days. Tourism activities have also come to a near standstill in the tourist town of Udhagamandalam, popularly known as Ooty, with hotels reporting thin arrivals and taxis also reporting dull business. Coimbatore district, which has been experiencing continuous rains for the last two days, registered 237 mm rains in the last 24 hours, ending 8.30 AM today. A report from Tuticorin said the district registered heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours with Kayalpattinam recording the highest at 150 mm, Tiruchendur 97 mm, Tuticorin city 83 mm and kulasekarapatinam 78 mm. Officials said low lying areas were flooded and roads damaged in many areas. The downpour in catchment areas has also led to increased inflows into major dams.