Tamil Nadu’s Southern Districts Grapple with Unprecedented Rainfall, Ten Fatalities Reported

Tamil Nadu's Southern Districts Grapple with Unprecedented Rainfall, Ten Fatalities Reported

VoM News Desk | December 20, 2023 | 08:58 AM IST | Breaking News, Tamil Nadu | Follow on Google News

Tamil Nadu’s Southern Districts Grapple with Unprecedented Rainfall, Ten Fatalities Reported

Tamil Nadu’s Southern Districts Grapple with Unprecedented Rainfall, Ten Fatalities Reported

The recent torrential rainfall in several parts of Tamil Nadu’s southern districts claimed ten lives and disrupted normal life, announced Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena.

He highlighted the unexpected and extensive rainfall that occurred over the last two days, contradicting the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) forecast, which had inaccurately predicted isolated to heavy rainfall.

Meena pointed out that the IMD’s forecast failed to match the actual weather scenario, as certain areas, like Kayalpattinam in Tuticorin district, received a staggering 115 cm of rainfall within a span of two days. .

He underscored the record-breaking rainfall in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin, resulting in severe flooding and affecting villages along the Thamirabharani river.

Efforts to address the crisis involved approximately 1,343 personnel from various government agencies, including the Navy, Air Force, NDRF, and State Disaster Response Force.

Rescue and relief operations have been underway, with 160 relief camps set up to accommodate around 17,000 people. Additionally, 34,000 food packets were distributed, yet some areas remain inaccessible due to lingering high water levels.

Nine helicopters were deployed to deliver 13,500 kg of food to stranded victims, and Meena mentioned the possibility of another helicopter joining the rescue operations.

While steps have been taken to supply essentials, challenges persist, particularly in restoring electricity in affected regions.

The Chief Secretary highlighted that the impact of this rainfall differs significantly from a cyclone’s impact on urban areas.

He stressed the scarcity of network connectivity in the affected villages, emphasizing the need for additional wireless sets to coordinate relief efforts effectively.

The government’s priority remains rescuing people, after which damage assessment will commence.

The collaborative efforts of local fishermen, the deployment of boats, and forthcoming reinforcements from neighboring districts will continue to support rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.

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