Tamil Nadu rain: Flash flood at Old Courtallam falls in Tenkasi kills teenager, video of fierce flow of water goes viral with 1 crore views

A tragic incident unfolded at the Old Courtallam Falls in Tenkasi district of Tamil Nadu as a 17-year-old boy lost his life to the fierce currents of a flash flood on Friday afternoon.

The victim, identified as Ashwin, a Class XI student hailing from NGO Colony in Palayamkottai, was among the individuals bathing at the falls around 2:30 pm when a sudden downpour in the Western Ghats triggered a flash flood. Chaos ensued as tourists cried out for assistance, prompting both police personnel and nearby shopkeepers to rush to their aid.

Amidst the commotion, Ashwin was swept away by the surging waters, marking a tragic turn of events. Responding swiftly, District Collector A K Kamal Kishore and Superintendent of Police T P Suresh Kumar, alongside Fire and Rescue Services personnel, initiated a rescue operation.



After an exhaustive search effort, Ashwin's body was discovered trapped amidst rocks in a stream branching from the falls, approximately a kilometer away from the bathing area.

Expressing condolences, the district collector acknowledged the collaborative effort that led to the recovery of Ashwin's body. He highlighted prior warnings issued to the public through media channels regarding the forecasted heavy rainfall in Tenkasi district and emphasized the necessity for caution. Additionally, all relevant departments were placed on high alert status.

In light of the incident, as a preventive measure, authorities have imposed a ban on bathing activities at all falls within the district until further notice.

Weather department issues alerts till May 22
Chennai and various parts of Tamil Nadu continued to experience heavy rainfall, with the regional weather office forecasting extremely heavy rain in districts like Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, and Theni. During the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Sunday, places like Jamunamarathur in Tiruvannamalai district and Pechiparai in Kanniyakumari received substantial rainfall.

In response to the weather conditions, the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority advised tourists visiting areas such as Udhagamanadalam, Tenkasi, and Hogenakkal in the western ghats to adhere to safety guidelines.

A "red alert" has been issued for Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, and Theni districts for Sunday and Monday, indicating the possibility of extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 20 cm in 24 hours.

The Regional Meteorological Centre also anticipates rain in certain Tamil Nadu districts until May 22, with an orange alert issued for the state. Specifically, very heavy rainfall is expected in parts of Tenkasi, Theni, and Dindigul.

Additionally, heavy rainfall is forecasted in various other districts including Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, and Tirupattur on Saturday and Sunday.

Specifically on Sunday, heavy rainfall is predicted for Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Theni, Tenkasi, and Dindigul districts, while Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, and Pudukottai are expected to experience heavy rains.