Many towns in southern districts, including Madurai, Theni and Tirunelveli, received rain on Sunday evening, thus bringing down the mercury level.

The rain was so heavy in Madurai that the inaugural function of the Chithirai exhibition at the Tamakkam Ground had to be hurriedly completed by the dignitaries led by Assembly Speaker R. Avudaiappan and Ministers. Places such as Vadipatti and Nagamalai pudukottai in the outskirts received heavy rain till 7 p.m.

For over an hour, the downpour, accompanied by thunder and lightning, brought in much needed respite from the heat wave.

Power failure was experienced owing to the rain in some parts of the city and its peripheries.

In Tirunelveli, there was a short spell of rain. Paramakudi recorded good rain on Saturday afternoon.

Though there were no rain in Tuticorin, Kanyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar and Sivaganga districts, the heat wave had dipped on Sunday evening.

Meanwhile, the Public Works Department officials here said that Uthamapalayam in Theni district recorded 32 mm rainfall during the last 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Sunday, followed by Thekkadi (28), Shanmuganadi (25), Gudalur (20), Periyar (10) and Vaigai dam (1).

According to Tamil Nadu Agricultural Weather Network website, Bodinaickanur in Theni district recorded 32.5 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours, Paramakudi (51) and Mudukalathur (19.5) in Ramanathapuram district, Radhapuram (15.5), Tenkasi (31) and Vasudevanallur recorded 19 mm rainfall in Tirunelveli district.