A heartbreaking incident occurred at Tamil Nadu’s Old Courtallam Waterfalls in the Tenkasi district on Friday, resulting in the tragic loss of a 16-year-old boy swept away by flash floods. The devastating event unfolded in the evening while numerous individuals were bathing in the waterfall, taken aback by the sudden surge of water as its level unexpectedly rose.
A frantic search operation was immediately launched to locate the missing teenager. Tragically, his lifeless body was discovered trapped between rocks a few meters away from the waterfall several hours later.
Accompanied by family members, the teenager had ventured to the waterfall for a leisurely dip, only for the outing to end in heartbreaking tragedy.
Visuals captured the chaotic scene as individuals scrambled to safety, fleeing from the swiftly rising waterfall.
Responding promptly, senior officials from the Tenkasi district administration visited the site to assess the situation. Entry to the waterfall has since been restricted in light of heavy rainfall in the vicinity.
Meanwhile, in the Nilgiris region, authorities have cautioned tourists to postpone their travel plans until May 20 due to torrential downpours. With an ‘orange alert’ forecast indicating intense rainfall between May 18 and 20, approximately 3,500 disaster response personnel have been placed on standby. Additionally, around 250 temporary shelters have been prepared, with residents urged to remain indoors for their safety.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai has issued predictions of continued showers in Tamil Nadu, Karaikal, and Puducherry over the next five days, with heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in various districts, including Tenkasi, Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Madurai, and Thoothukudi.