Salem district experienced a night of intense rainfall on Thursday, September 18, 2025, leading to a devastating incident where two individuals tragically lost their lives due to electrocution. The fatal accident occurred when an electric cable snapped under the force of the heavy downpour.
The downpour commenced across various parts of the district on Thursday evening and persisted until the early hours of Friday. Areas within the Salem Corporation limits reported particularly heavy rain. By Friday morning, the intensity had diminished to light drizzles in Salem city, but the damage was already done. The torrential overnight rain caused widespread water stagnation in numerous city localities, including Nethimedu, Ammapet, Ponnammapet, Five Roads, Four Roads, Pallapatti, Kitchipalayam, Annathanapatti, Hasthampatti, and Sankar Nagar.
The victims were identified as Perumal, 45, from Kuppanaickanur near Omalur, and his colleague Raji, 35, a resident of Kanjanaickenpatti. Both were factory workers in Mettur. As they were returning home to Kuppanaickanur on their motorcycle on Thursday night, a live electric cable, dislodged by the severe rain and strong winds, fell directly onto their path near the Vinayakar Temple. They were instantly electrocuted. Despite immediate efforts by local residents to rush them to the hospital, both succumbed to their injuries en route. Deevattipatti police have registered a case and are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this tragic event.
Official reports indicate that Salem district recorded a total of 310.30 mm of rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8 a.m. on Friday, with an average district rainfall of 19.39 mm. Salem city itself received the highest individual measurement at 45.6 mm. Other significant rainfall figures included 44.4 mm in Mettur, 42 mm in Nathakarai, 27 mm in Edappadi, and 25 mm in Veeraganoor. Thammampatti and Gangavalli each received 20 mm, while Yercaud saw 19.2 mm, Omalur 18 mm, Vazhapadi 13 mm, Sankari 12.1 mm, Aanaimaduvu 8 mm, Danishpet 7 mm, Attur 4 mm, Kariyakovil 3 mm, and Yethapur 2 mm.