Tiruchy, May 10 : Continuous rainfall ranging from moderate to heavy intensity since Friday evening has affected several districts across Tamil Naduâ??s Delta and southern regions, disrupting normal life, causing waterlogging in many urban areas, and significantly increasing inflows into major reservoirs.

However, farmers welcomed the timely showers, saying the rains would greatly benefit standing summer crops and ongoing cultivation activities.

As forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), widespread rains began on Friday evening and continued intermittently till Saturday morning across Tiruchy, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Perambalur, Ariyalur and parts of Pudukkottai districts.

In Thanjavur district, Budalur recorded the highest rainfall at 5.2 cm, while Thanjavur town received 1.6 cm. In Tiruchy district, Devimangalam received 2.58 cm of rainfall, followed by Pullambadi with 1.14 cm and Lalgudi with 1.06 cm.

Continuous showers in Tiruchy city led to waterlogging in several low-lying areas, inconveniencing motorists and commuters. Heavy rainfall was also recorded in the coastal belt, with Mayiladuthurai town receiving 2.3 cm and Nagapattinam town 2.12 cm of rainfall.

In the Pudukkottai district, Tirumayam and Aranthangi received 2.5 cm and 2 cm of rainfall, respectively. Kudavasal in the Thiruvarur district recorded the highest rainfall in the district at 2.34 cm.

Farmers across the Delta region expressed relief over the rainfall, stating that it would support standing summer paddy crops and improve soil moisture for cultivation of rain-fed crops such as pulses, maize and groundnut.

Many farmers had already begun new crop cultivation following the recent summer showers. Meanwhile, heavy overnight rainfall in Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts substantially improved inflow into several dams in the Western Ghats region.

Oothu in the Manjolai tea estate area recorded the highest rainfall in Tirunelveli district at 17 cm. The increased rainfall boosted water storage in major reservoirs, including Papanasam, Manimuthar, Servalar, Gadananathi, Ramanathi and Adavinainar dams.

Officials said the inflow to the Papanasam dam more than doubled to 215 cusecs, while water levels in several dams rose sharply within a day due to continuous rain in the catchment areas.

/IANS