Revenue officials at the flooded Palar river near Kuttaiyur village in Tamil Nadu’s Erode district on Wednesday. | Photo credit: Special arrangement.
An official team led by Gobichettipalayam Sub-Collector S. Sivanandham on Wednesday (October 22, 2025) inspected the flooded Palar river near Kuttaiyur village in Bargur Hills to assess the situation.
Following heavy rains in the region, flash floods occurred in Palaru on Monday (October 20, 2025), leaving three villages, Kuttaiyur, Velampatti and Mattimarahalli, located along the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border, deserted and cut off from the mainland.
A report on “Villages marooned” was published in The Hindu on 22 October 2025, after which an official team, including the Anthiyur Tahsildar and other revenue officials, visited the affected area.
As Kuttaiyur could not be reached from Makkampalayam in Erode district due to a swollen river, the team took a 54 km route through the Bargur Hills to Kargekandi in Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka and traveled another 24 km to Jallipalayam before crossing back into Tamil Nadu to reach the opposite bank Kuttaiyur.
However, as Palar was still flooded, the team could not proceed to the village. Several local residents risked their lives to wade across the river and communicate with officials.
Residents of the team said their village remained cut off for four days, leaving them unable to buy basic items. They urged the administration to construct a bridge across Palar to ensure permanent connectivity.
Officials informed the villagers that the bridge proposal had already been submitted to the government for approval.
The official said road accessibility from nearby villages, including Makkampalayam, to Kuttaiyur has been examined and a report will be submitted to the district administration to take necessary action. The official said essential items were being supplied to residents through a part-time ration shop ahead of Deepavali.
Published – 22 Oct 2025 21:22 IST
