Three days after unprecedented rains battered South Tamil Nadu, the towns and villages around Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Tiruchendur remain under water. Life in these districts has been completely paralyzed as several hamlets remain inaccessible to the rescue teams due to heavy flooding. Several pockets around these districts have turned into islands and several thousands remain marooned in flood waters.
The entire South Tamil Nadu continues to remain in distress, with transportation disrupted, trains and buses cancelled and normal life thrown out of gear. Tirunelveli bus station, hotels, lodges, commercial complexes and the railway station in Thoothukudi have been submerged underwater. Transportation has come to a complete halt as most roads have turned into lakes with water overflowing. Air operations in Thoothukudi have been suspended for the third consecutive day.
While rescuers have been able to reach several pockets in the urban areas, the situation still remains grim as there is three to four feet of water in most parts. Some parts of Thoothukudi remain submerged in seven feet of water.
Officials involved in the rescue operations said the boats could not reach several areas as the water currents are strong and there is heavy water flow blocking the connecting roads. Most of the villages are not reachable even over the phone to assess the situation, said officials.
According to chief secretary Shiv Das Meena, 270 boats have been pressed to work in the flood-affected areas and at least 10,100 people have been rescued and moved to relief centres. Another 50 boats have been brought from Ramanathapuram to enable rescuers to reach the remote areas that are inundated. “Some areas are not reachable even via boats due to the heavy water current,” Meena added.
Over 1,100 rescuers from the National and State Disaster Response Force (NDRF and SDRF) are involved in rescue operations. Besides, over 170 people from the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard are also at work. The IAF airlifted pregnant women and children who were in distress in the flood-affected areas. Eight helicopters have been at rescue work for the past three days.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on Tuesday, wrote to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh seeking more helicopters for rescue operations. Stalin sought Singh’s intervention in sending the maximum number of helicopters to help rescue operations and air drop food packets in extremely affected areas. Stalin, who is in Delhi, is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek a relief package.
Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and DMK’s Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi are on the ground reviewing the situation and assisting rescue operations in the low-lying areas. The entire state machinery has been pressed to work as the situation is extremely grim in places like Srivaikundam and the places on the banks of Thamirabarani river. The flow of water from the river has submerged Tirunelveli town. Places like Palaymkottai in Tirunelveli received 44.2 cm rain surpassing the earlier record of 29.2 cm in 1963.