Rains in Nilgiris lead to power outages, closure of schools and tourism spots

Electricity poles collapsed due to incessant rain at Udhagamandalam in the Nilgiris on June 16, 2025
| Photo Credit: M. Sathyamoorthy

Heavy rains in the Nilgiris led to power outages across the district’s major towns, closure of schools and tourism spots on Monday (June 16, 2025).

The district administration announced than an average of 47.28 millimetres of rainfall was recorded from Sunday till Monday morning, with rains continuing throughout the day on Monday. The hardest hit were the taluks of Kundha, Pandalur and Gudalur.

The weather report stated that Pandalur received more than 130 millimetres of rainfall till Monday morning while Gudalur, Devala and O’Valley also witnessed heavy rains. Meanwhile, Avalanche and Upper Bhavani in Kundha received 168 and 292 millimetres of rainfall respectively. Udhagamandalam taluk received lesser amount of rainfall with Ooty town recording 16 millimetres. However, heavy rains were reporter in Parsons Valley and Porthimund, measuring 132 and 94 millimetres respectively.

As rain continued in the Nilgiris, tree falls were reported across the district on June 16, 2025
| Photo Credit:
M. Sathyamoorthy

Many parts of Gudalur, Pandalur and Udhagamandalam taluks reported widespread power cuts from Sunday due to the rains and wind. Staff from the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) used heavy machinery to clear fallen trees and set right electricity poles that had collapsed due to wind as well as tree falls. Minor landslips and damaged roads were also reported across the district.

The district administration, which had anticipated heavy rains from Saturday, stated that Tamil Nadu State Disaster Response Force (TNSDRF) personnel had already been deployed in Pandalur, Kundha and Gudalur taluks since the weekend.

Tourist spots shut

Due to the inclement weather, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) had closed the Ooty lake and Boat house for boating. The forest department also stated that the Doddabetta Peak, Avalanche, Eighth Mile and Pine Forest, Cairn Hill and Ninth Mile Shooting Spot had been closed due to both adverse weather conditions and for maintenance-related reasons.