Tamil Nadu Rain Fury Claims 10 Lives, Schools and Colleges Shut in Multiple Districts

In the aftermath of unprecedented floods wreaking havoc in southern districts of Tamil Nadu, the Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have collaborated to initiate extensive rescue operations. The situation is dire, with at least 20,000 people stranded in various regions, exacerbated by the discharge of over 1.2 lakh cusecs of water from the overflowing Tamarabarani River.

Srivaikuntam and its surrounding areas bear the brunt of the devastation, prompting Tuticorin Collector G Lakshmipathy to assure that while these regions are the worst affected, there is currently no imminent danger to lives. However, challenges persist as inaccessible pockets await evacuation, leading to ongoing air-dropping of food and relief supplies to provide essential aid to those cut off from ground access.

Tuticorin MP MK Kanimozhi, actively engaging with communities on the ground, emphasized the multifaceted challenges faced by rescue teams in reaching stranded residents, including the necessity for aerial drops in areas where even boats struggle to navigate.

Despite a three-day respite from rainfall in Tuticorin, the situation remains critical, and pockets of the district are still inaccessible. Chennai and its surrounding areas, grappling with the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung, are now dealing with unprecedented rainfall, compounding the damage and prompting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to seek immediate assistance from the Central government.

The floods have severely impacted Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Kanyakumari, and Tenkasi districts, prompting Chief Minister Stalin to request ₹2,000 crore from the National Disaster Relief Fund for immediate relief and infrastructure repair. This urgent appeal underscores the need for national support to address the ongoing crisis.

Chief Minister Stalin, who recently met with Prime Minister Modi, stressed the urgency in a memorandum, expressing gratitude for the Prime Minister’s attention to Tamil Nadu’s needs during these challenging times. The combined impact of heavy rain and the recent cyclone necessitates swift action and fund allocation for repair and rehabilitation.

Rescue and relief operations, spearheaded by State Disaster Response Force and NDRF teams, are underway in the affected districts. Despite challenges posed by inundated roads, helicopters are being utilized to deliver relief materials to the affected areas, emphasizing the urgency and importance of a coordinated response to mitigate the impact of the unfolding crisis.