Moyar River Floods Isolate Thengumarahada Village in Nilgiris
Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu, October 26. Villagers in Thengumarahada, a remote settlement in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris district, found themselves cut off on Monday after heavy rain caused flooding in the Moyar river. The disruption has cut communication with the outside world and stopped the delivery of essentials such as food and medicines.
The village lies deep in the forests of Kotagiri taluk, near the Sathyamangalam and Mudumalai Tiger Reserves. To reach basic services, residents usually have to cross the river, a route that is now unsafe.
The Moyar has risen above its danger mark, and river crossing paths have been closed. This has left villagers without a safe way out. Rainfall over the past several days in the Nilgiris and nearby districts has steadily pushed up the river's level. On Monday, the current was extremely strong, making the customary crossing dangerous.
The blockage has raised fears about access to medicines and other vital supplies, especially for those who depend on facilities outside the village. The river crossing remains shut due to the hazardous conditions.
This flooding has come as rain continues to take a heavy toll on the hill district. Over the last 24 hours, more than 60 landslides were reported, ranging from small soil slides to large-scale slope collapses.
On Friday, a 51-year-old government bus driver, Janagaraj, lost his life in a major landslide near Paralliar on the Mettupalayam-Coonoor hill road. The tragedy shows how dangerous unstable slopes can become during prolonged rain.
Several landslides have also affected the Nilgiri Mountain Railway. Train services between Coonoor and Mettupalayam have been temporarily suspended because debris has blocked the track, further complicating travel in the district.
District administration officials and Fire and Rescue Services personnel are working on rescue and relief operations in the affected areas. Clearing mud and debris from roads blocked by landslides is also underway.
Until the affected routes are cleared, vehicles on the Mettupalayam-Coonoor road are being sent through Kotagiri. The rerouting has made movement harder in hill areas already struggling with disrupted daily life.
The District Collector has asked residents and tourists to avoid unnecessary travel on hill roads until conditions improve. For emergency assistance, people can contact the Nilgiris District Control Room at 1077 or 0423-2450024.