Flooding at Ramana Nagar, Tiruvannamalai

As part of the natural climate cycle, after a long hot dry summer, at this time of the year Tamil Nadu generally receives a copious amount of rain during the monsoon. The below photographs were taken about a week ago, subsequently we have been receiving heavy rains most evenings, so water levels are daily increasing. 

Rains pouring down Arunachala

Rains coming from the summit creating streams down the side of the Hill

Agni Tank (Chengham Road) during de-silting operations

Agni Tank this monsoon season. The tank is one of the catchment areas for water pouring down the side of Arunachala. Notice the water running off Arunachala pouring into the tank at top of photograph.

Sometimes the water flow is so heavy the tank fills completely and becomes an "infinity" pond with the overspill pouring onto the adjacent Chengham Road

Palakothu Tank on a normal day

The Tank is in front of the Paul Brunton house and a favourite encampment for sadhus and sannyasins

Palakothu Tank beginning to fill up. Photograph taken 5 days ago

Water beginning to overflow sides of tank 5 days ago

Some irrigation ditches on the sides of houses in Ramana Nagar having problems coping with the heavy rains

Drains and waterways damaged in the rains

A number of homes on this street and at the bottom of lane have already been damaged this rainy season

Lots of damage this year to houses and buildings in the Ramana Nagar area. The above is a gate at Ramana Ashram damaged by the heavy rains

Monsoon Rains

According to the Research Institue for Climate and Society (IRI), there is likely to be a change in the rainfall pattern in India this monsoon season. The South-West Monsoon season usually begins in June and forecasts by global agencies show that in the first half of the season, heavy rains will occur on the west coast, parts of South India, western Uttar Pradesh and N.E. Madhya Pradesh. Later in the season the southern peninsula, western and central India would receive heavy rains.

The shift in the rainfall pattern is a matter of concern. It has been recorded that in the last two years, there has been heavy rainfall in drought-prone areas while flood-prone areas were left dry.

Long term residents of Tiruvannamalai remarked that over the last two years; tirthams, tanks and reservoirs throughout the area were fuller than at anytime they recall in the previous 30 years. Last rainy season areas near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, suffered severe banana crop loss due to excessive rains.

I suppose just like everywhere else in this fast shifting world, we will just have to wait and see what the upcoming monsoon season has in store for us here at Tiruvannamalai.