Tamil Nadu rains: Public holiday in 4 districts; 1 dead
Heavy rainfall pummeled Tamil Nadu on Sunday and Monday, leading to flooding and disrupting normal life in four southern districts: Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari. One person died in Tuticorin, while the government declared a public holiday in these districts on Monday, with schools, colleges, banks, and public and private firms remaining closed. Trains and flight operations were also affected in some districts. Moreover, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted heavy to extremely heavy rainfall would continue in the state.
Transportation disruptions, safety measures
The rainfall and flooding have reportedly led flights bound for Tuticorin to be diverted or canceled. Seventeen trains, including a Vande Bharat Express, to and from Tirunelveli, have either been partially or fully canceled, per reports. The Thamaraparani River is overflowing, prompting fresh alerts in the surrounding districts. District collectors have been advised to ensure proper dam water management to prevent major floods. Meanwhile, flood-hit people in the Tirunelveli district were moved to a shelter camp.
Watch: Visuals of submerged railway station Tirunelveli district
Relief, rescue operations underway
Chief Minister MK Stalin has directed ministers and high-ranking officials to oversee relief and rescue efforts, with a senior bureaucrat monitoring each district. Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been sent to Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts, and three State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams are currently stationed in Kanyakumari. Furthermore, 4,000 additional police officers were deployed in affected regions. Stalin directed district collectors to keep relief centers and boats ready in vulnerable areas to evacuate residents if necessary.
Tuticorin received record rains since Sunday
Thiruchendur in the Tuticorin district experienced a staggering 60cm of rainfall in just 15 hours. While Kanyakumari recorded 17cm of rainfall, the Nalumukku and Palayamkottai areas in the Tirunelveli district reported 19cm and 26cm of rain, respectively. Knee-to-waist-deep water has engulfed parts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Kanyakumari districts as water has been released from Papanasam, Perunjani, and Pechuparai dams. Fishermen have been advised to avoid venturing into the sea due to high wind speeds gusting up to 55km/hr.
