Monsoon shortfall leaves Coonoor's main water source nearly dry

A shortage of monsoon rain in the Nilgiris district has left Coonoor's primary water source, the Ralliah Dam, almost dry over the past week, sparking concerns about water availability among residents. According to sources in the Horticulture Department, rainfall from the southwest monsoon around Udhagamandalam has been more than 55% below normal this year. Officials said there is no impending water crisis in Udhagamandalam, citing steady rains in the catchments of the major dams that supply the town. The outlook for Coonoor, however, is less optimistic. Sharan Deep Singh, a resident of Bettatti near Coonoor and an activist working to protect water bodies around the town, highlighted the situation and called for urgent conservation studies and infrastructure planning to address the water stress.