Heavy rain and landslides disrupt vehicle movement on Pachamalai ghat road

A boulder is being removed on the ghat road between Sobanapuram and Top Sengattupatti in Tiruchi district | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Heavy rain and landslides disrupted vehicular movement on the Pachamalai ghat road in the district on Sunday.Many parts of Tiruchi, Karur, Perambalur, and Ariyalur districts recorded heavy rain on Sunday. Thenpuranadu, Vathalai, Sirugudi, Samayapuram, Musiri, and Tiruchi junction were among the places where heavy rain was recorded in the last 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m on Sunday. While Thenpuranadu recorded 120 mm rainfall, Koppampatti received 70 mm rainfall. Kallakudi, Devimangalam and Sirugudi recorded 42.4 mm, 53 mm and 67 mm respectively. Tiruchi junction recorded 43.6 mm rainfall. Jayankondam and Sidhamalli in Ariyalur district, Kulithalai and Krishnarayapuram in Karur district also received heavy rainfall.According to sources, many jungle streams along Pachamalai, low mountain ranges of Eastern Ghat, have been flooded. Due to the heavy rain that lashed several parts of Pachamalai for the last few days and the neighbouring Kolli hills in Namakkal districts, Mangalam falls and Koraiyar falls have been flooded, thereby forcing the Forest Department to close them temporarily for tourists. Safety rails along the Mangalam and Koraiyar falls suffered damage due to heavy rain. Similarly, the stream at Puliyancholai, a popular picnic spot near Thuraiyur in Tiruchi district, also carried heavy water.Landslips were reported at a few points on the ghat road leading to Topsengattupatti and other tribal villages on Pachamalai. Small to big boulders were scattered at several places, thereby disrupting the vehicular movement. Rocks, uprooted trees, and mud tumbled down the slops amidst the heavy downpour. The Forest, Revenue and other departments deployed men and machines to remove the boulders, mud and tree branches.Collector Pratik Tayal told The Hindu that the boulders, mud, and debris that had been cleared. The ghat road had been damaged at some points. Though the road was motorable, movement of heavy vehicles and four-wheelers had been temporarily barred on the Top Sengattupatti section. However, two-wheelers were allowed.Since Pachamalai and neighbouring areas continued to get very heavy rainfall, he said that the officials had been asked to be on alert and the situation was being closely watched. Five houses were partially damaged in the district. However, there was no report of loss of life and cattle in the district.S. Krithiga, District Forest Officer, said Mangalam and Koraiyar falls were closed for tourists until further notice. Published - October 25, 2026 08:49 pm IST