Floods paralyse life; massive rescue, relief operations on in four districts in south Tamil Nadu

Overnight historic rains and flooding paralysed life in the southern districts of Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari

Overnight historic rains and flooding paralysed life in the southern districts of Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari on December 18. A massive rescue and relief operation is on with the help of defence forces to evacuate people from marooned homes in the districts, which have been cut off from the rest of Tamil Nadu. As of late night on Monday, the State government did not release figures of human casualties. Extensive damage to crops on thousands of acres, and properties was reported in the four districts. Hundreds of vehicles were washed away by strong currents. The Thamirabaran river was in spate.

Tamil Nadu rains updates

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reached New Delhi on Monday night for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. He is slated to brief Mr. Modi on the situation in the southern districts and seek monetary assistance to handle the devastation caused by floods there, as well as in Chennai and its surroundings earlier this month.

While the Indian Navy and Coast Guard joined the rescue operations using helicopters, the Tamil Nadu Government additionally requisitioned the help of the Army and the Air Force as well. Boats were used to rescue people from many places.

Train and bus services were suspended in the region and flight services were suspended in the Thoothukudi airport. Over 800 passengers on board the Tiruchendur – Chennai Chendur Express Train were stranded overnight after the train was stopped at Srivaikundam Station at 9 p.m. on Sunday as the railway track between Srivaikundam and Seythunganallur stations had been washed away by the flood for a few kilometres. While a section of the commuters was taken in vans late in the night, around 500 of them — including loco pilot Shaju — for more than 24 hours. Plans were afoot to airdrop food packets to them.

Governor R.N. Ravi has convened an emergency meeting of officers of Defence and Central government departments in Raj Bhavan on Tuesday to discuss contingency plan for flood situation in southern districts.

Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena told journalists in Chennai that 17 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were working in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts — the worst affected among the four. More teams would be deployed sooner.