Devastation due to heavy rain in Tamil Nadu
Roads, bridges and paddy fields were submerged in several districts of southern Tamil Nadu and residential colonies were inundated due to heavy rains on Monday, creating a flood-like situation. One person has reportedly died in Tuticorin district. The state has requested assistance from the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy for rescue operations as well as to assist people in the affected area. Kanyakumari received 17.3 cm rainfall, while Tirunelveli recorded 26 cm and Tuticorin recorded 60 cm rainfall in 15 hours.
About 7,500 people affected by the rains have been evacuated and kept in 84 relief camps. SMS alerts have been sent to 62 lakh people through Common Alert Protocol. State Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena said the state has sought the services of the Army, Navy and Air Force. 84 boats have been deployed for rescue and relief initiatives. The state government has declared December 18 as a public holiday in four districts.
Chief Minister MK Stalin directed officials to release excess water into the nearby Kannadian Channel after the Thamirabarani river swelled. NDRF and State Disaster Response Force personnel, fire and rescue services and police teams evacuated people from heavily flooded areas and kept them in schools and marriage halls. Train services have been suspended in the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur section as ‘ballast’ has been washed away, the track is ‘hanging’ and water is flowing on the railway tracks. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) today issued a warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall as the cyclonic circulation intensifies over Comorin area.
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