In response to the relentless downpour and severe flooding that have plagued southern Tamil Nadu since Sunday, a large-scale rescue and relief operation is currently underway. The calamity has resulted in a tragic toll, with at least 10 reported deaths and extensive disruptions to crucial infrastructure, including traffic, electricity, and communication networks.
As the torrential rains persist, rescue efforts persistently unfold in the districts of Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari in Southern Tamil Nadu. The flooding has left numerous individuals stranded, encompassing railway passengers and pilgrims alike. Urgent measures have been taken, leading to the relocation of over 7,000 people to shelters, with the state government proactively preparing more than 85,000 food packets by Tuesday evening.
The gravity of the situation has prompted the involvement of various stakeholders, including nine state ministers and two dozen senior IAS and IPS officers who have stationed themselves in the flood-affected areas. In the face of power and communications outages, approximately 300 wireless sets have been dispatched from Chennai, Tamil Nadu to aid police personnel in coordinating relief work.
The armed forces, notably the Army and Air Force, are playing pivotal roles in the ongoing rescue operations. Their efforts include evacuating people from flood-hit areas and providing essential medical care. The Air Force has been instrumental in transporting 1.3 tonnes of relief materials via helicopter from the Coimbatore district to the affected regions, with a total of four IAF helicopters engaged in rescue and relief efforts on Tuesday. Additionally, two helicopters from the Navy and two from the Coast Guard have been deployed to augment these operations.
Among the numerous challenges faced during this crisis, the plight of 800 stranded train passengers at Srivaikuntam railway station in Thoothukudi district stands out. Although approximately 300 passengers were successfully moved to a nearby government school on Monday, the remaining 500 were compelled to remain on the train due to an impassable access road. An Air Force helicopter came to the aid of a pregnant woman on board, airlifting her to a hospital. Meanwhile, military helicopters from Madurai are en route with relief for the stranded passengers.
Tamil Nadu State Response
In the midst of these challenges, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M K Stalin is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday night to discuss flood relief and rehabilitation measures. To bolster rescue efforts, Stalin has sought additional helicopters from the Defence Ministry.
Governor R N Ravi convened a high-level meeting at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday, bringing together officials from various central government departments, including the defence forces and the National Disaster Response Force. Their collaboration aims to strategize and coordinate relief and rescue operations effectively.
Senior IAS official Gagandeep Singh Bedi has been assigned the crucial task of coordinating food distribution and rescue operations in the flooded areas. Recognizing the severity of the situation, educational institutions in the affected districts have declared holidays, and the state government has taken the necessary step of postponing university exams.
The challenges continue to mount, with a landslide near Bodimettu, bordering Kerala, causing significant traffic snarls. Additionally, reservoirs in the flood-affected region are witnessing a substantial rise in water levels. The rain has also led to a worrisome increase in water levels at the Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala’s Idukki district, prompting the issuance of first and second-stage flood alerts for residents in the Periyar valley.