• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Tue, 19 Dec 2023 08:42 PM (IST)
  • Source:ANI
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Tamil Nadu Rains: Teams of all three braches of the military, and the Coast Guard have been pressed into action in southern Tamil Nadu, where relief and rescue efforts are underway in the wake of the incessant rainfall that has wreaked havoc in the region since Sunday morning. As per the Tamil Nadu government, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed four helicopters to assist in rescue operations in districts affected by the downpour.

Besides the IAF, the Navy and Coast Guard have also deployed choppers for the rescue operations that are underway in Tamil Nadu as a result of waterlogging and flood-like situations in the districts of Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanyakumari. On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin urged Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to deploy more helicopters for the rescue and relief efforts on an urgent basis.

Tamil Nadu Rains Top Updates:

- Eight choppers have been deployed by the Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard for the rescue operations underway in southern Tamil Nadu, as per the state government. Of the eight choppers, four belong to the Air Force, and two each are owned by the Navy and Coast Guard, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin mentioned in a letter to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

- The IAF has deployed Medium Lift Helicopters (MLH) and Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Dhruv for HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) efforts.

(Video Credits: Indian Air Force)

- In his letter, Stalin requested Singh to deploy more helicopters for the rescue efforts. "Given the enormity of the disaster and the large number of habitations to be covered, we need more helicopters for rescue and relief distribution. Hence, I request your urgent intervention to deploy maximum number of helicopters immediately," the letter read.

- As helicopters howevering in the air dropped relief supplies and reeled in stranded civilians to safety, Indian Army teams rescued distressed people on the ground. 

- The Army said one of its columns rescued 57 women, 39 men and 15 children in Thoothukudi's Nanalkadu. "Now the column is moving to the village Padmanabhamangalam enroute to Srivaikuntam. Civil authorities have requested for assistance in Shrivaikundam. There are around 250 people stranded in this village," Defence PRO said in a statement.

 

- Army teams rescued flood-affected people from the Vasavappapuram area in Thoothukudi on Monday night.

- As many as 40 lakh people have been affected by flooding in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts, the state government informed. 

"The southern districts of Tamil Nadu have received unprecedented rainfall in the last two days. Some locations have received their highest rainfall recorded ever since 1871. Due to this, around 40 lakh people living in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts have been very badly affected. The situation is particularly extremely serious in Srivaikuntam and Tuticorin towns, due to large flooding in Thamirabarani river and adjoining areas," CM Stalin said in his letter to the defence minister.

- CM Stalin further said in the letter that the state government has mobilized officers, SDRF and NDRF teams to undertake rescue and relief operations.

- A special train will be run to Chennai from Vanchi Manyichchi Station for all the stranded passengers, Southern Railways said.

- Southern Railways also said it was taking concerted steps towards ensuring the restoration of traffic and evacuation of stranded passengers at the Srivakuntam Railway Station.

"Unprecedented rainfall had occurred in the districts of Tirunelveli and Tuticorin during the 24 hours from 8:30 hours of December 17, 2023 to 8:30 hours of December 18, 2023 measuring in the range of 670 mm to 932 mm. This has impacted the train operation as track parameters have been breached on certain sections falling in these two districts and as result traffic has to be suspended," Southern Railways said in a press release on Monday (December 18).

(With inputs from ANI)