Heavy rains continued to batter Kanyakumari district on Friday after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for four southern districts — Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Theni.

The downpour, which was relentless for the past week, caused widespread disruptions in coastal and interior areas of Kanyakumari district.In Kanyakumari, Friday's rainfall was recorded at more than 80mm, with coastal villages from Arogyapuram to Neerody witnessing intense showers and rough sea conditions. Fishermen were warned not to venture into the sea, and tourists were advised to avoid visiting coastal zones.Strong winds uprooted trees in several areas, including Nagercoil, Meenakshipuram, Erachakulam, Navalkadu, Asaripallam, and Ittamozhi, damaging over 150 electricity poles and plunging multiple villages into darkness. Fire and rescue teams from Kulasekaram, Kuzhithurai, Kolachal, Thakkalai, and Kanyakumari cleared fallen trees at over 50 locations. In Kottaram, a tree fell on a transformer, affecting power supply to 10 nearby villages.

Power was restored by late evening.Meanwhile, heavy rains in Courtallam led to flooding in all major waterfalls, including Courtallam Main Falls, Aindaruvi, Puliyaruvi, and Old Courtallam Falls. Bathing was prohibited for the sixth consecutive day due to safety concerns, disappointing tourists. In Tirunelveli, below-average rainfall was recorded.In Theni district, the Vaigai dam water level stood at 53.90ft, with an inflow of 786 cusecs.

Other dams such as Manjalar, Sothuparai, and Shanmukanathi also saw rising water levels. Due to increased flow in waterfalls like Meghamalai, Suruli, and Kumbakkarai, forest officials imposed restrictions on visitors.The check dams saw a surge in flow from rains in Bodi, Kurangani, and Top Station areas. Renovation work in nearby canals led to forest flooding. Theni district administration authorities urged tourists and locals to stay away from riverbanks as a safety precaution.