One person died in Thoothukudi, while another died in Tirunelveli district
Photo shared by @Manothangaraj, Tamil Nadu's Minister for Milk & Dairy Development, from his X handle on December 18, 2023
Heavy rains have continued to pound Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, and Kanniyakumari districts of southern Tamil Nadu on December 18, as the Northeast monsoon continued to wreak havoc on the state.
One person died in Thoothukudi, while another died in Tirunelveli district. Rescue operations are underway, and the state has sought help from the Air Force to provide food by helicopter.
Tiruchendur in Thoothukudi district received 60 centimetres (cm) of rain in just 15 hours till 1:30 am. Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli district received 26 cm. Meanwhile, Kanniyakumari received 17.3 cm of rain.
The Thamirabarani river is overflowing. The water level in the Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Kanniyakumari districts is three to four feet due to the release of water from the Papanasam, Perunjani, and Pechuparai dams on the river.
A public holiday has been declared on December 18 in the affected districts. Schools, colleges, banks, private institutions, and public sector organisations remain closed.
Chief Minister MK Stalin deployed ministers and senior officials for relief and rescue operations on December 18. Senior officers have been deputed to supervise each affected district. Stalin instructed the district collectors to prepare relief centres and boats in vulnerable areas, and evacuate people quickly if necessary.
Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams of 50 members each have been rushed to the Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts, while three State Disaster Response Force teams have been deployed in the Kanniyakumari district.
Additional ferries have been mobilised to areas like Thoothukudi, Srivaikundam, and Kayataltinam. About 7,500 people have been shifted to 84 relief camps.
Warning messages have been sent to 6.2 million people through mobile phones. Also, 4,000 police personnel have been deployed in the affected districts. Fisherfolk are strongly advised not to venture into the sea at high wind speeds of 40-55 kmph.
Flights to Thoothukudi have been cancelled. Seventeen trains to and from Tirunelveli, including the Vande Bharat train, have been partially or fully cancelled.
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