A day after heavy rain, unprecedented in several decades, battered Southern Tamil Nadu, towns turned into islands and thousands were marooned on Monday across several districts, including Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari.
The heavy rain also disrupted transportation, with the cancellation of at least a dozen trains, as well as bus and flight services to Thoothukudi. Anna University postponed exams and schools and colleges across several districts declared holidays.
The impact on infrastructure was evident as the ground floors of commercial complexes, hotels, and lodges around the Tirunelveli Junction Bus Stand were submerged underwater.
The main challenge remains water stagnation, which has submerged entire towns in 3-4 feet of water, and the town bus stand was in over 7 feet of water. In response to the crisis, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin directed officials to exercise caution in managing lake and canal waters.
Despite the severity of the situation, the death toll has been relatively low, with district authorities confirming about five fatalities. One of the five confirmed deaths in the state was due to a house wall collapse, as a 75-year-old man was killed in the Ramanathapuram district.
The intensity of the rainfall has been unprecedented. In Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli, 44.2 cm of rain has been recorded. This surpasses the previous highest rainfall of 29.2 cm in 1963. Similarly, the highest rainfall for December in Palayamkottai was previously 20 cm in 1931.
In Kayalpattinam, Thoothukudi district, an extraordinary 95 cm of rainfall was recorded in 24 hours, marking the highest rainfall ever recorded in the plains of Tamil Nadu. The surging waters caused significant damage in Virudhunagar and Madurai, prompting the opening of the Vaigai dam to manage the rising water levels.
The unprecedented rainfall has led to increased water levels in the Thamirabarani river, submerging the bridge across the river, and worsening the situation in Tirunelveli town and surrounding areas.
Many houses in low-lying areas along the Thamirabarani River have been flooded following the torrential rains, and many low-lying areas were inundated.
Relief and rescue operations
Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena said on Monday the state government has requested assistance from the three Armed forces to aid in rescuing stranded people.
The Indian Navy dispatched two boats to aid the flood-ravaged people in the Thoothukudi region.
According to a defence spokesperson, a Navy flight landed at INS Parundu with two boats in Thoothukudi, where passenger flight operations have been cancelled due to the heavy rain. “These two boats will be pressed into service to rescue those affected by the floods in Thoothukudi,” the spokesperson said.
In a massive relief operation, approximately 1,000 firefighters from neighbouring districts, accompanied by 67 fire engines and 43 boats, have been dispatched to assist in the affected districts.
Additionally, two teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and three teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed to manage the crisis.
Ministers, including Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and senior IAS officers have been stationed in the affected areas to oversee relief efforts.
The office of the Tirunelveli district collector said that 40 of the 696 pregnant women, who are due to deliver within the next 30 days, have been shifted to hospitals, and efforts are ongoing to provide help and relief to more.
Water has entered several hospitals in the region. Several schools and wedding halls in the region have been converted into relief camps, providing shelter to those displaced by the floods.
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