10 Dead, Thousands Displaced: Torrential Rains Batter Tamil Nadu Coast

Tamil Nadu has been grappling with the effects of incessant rains for the past week, as ten people have died and thousands have been displaced from their homes. Reports state that 7,500 people have been moved from their homes to relief centres, among a total of 12,000 people who have been rescued. On December 19, the Ministry of Defence, Nagpur, posted a video on X (Twitter), showing the Indian Air Force helicopters rescuing a pregnant woman and a one-year-old infant from the floods. The video exposed the devastating situation of the people in Tamil Nadu facing this calamity.

IAF helicopters are deployed for HADR missions in #TamilNadu due to unprecedented rains in last 24 hrs.

Four passengers including a pregnant lady & baby aged 1.5 yrs were winched up and taken safely to Madurai.@IAF_MCC @IafSac @Def_PRO_Chennai @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/y7v1ptSPiL

— PRO Nagpur, Ministry of Defence (@PRODefNgp) December 19, 2023

Coastal areas like Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, and Tenkasi are the worst affected districts by the rains. According to reports, the harsh-flowing water has entered people's homes and completely covered roads, fields, and bridges. An aerial view of some of the cities in these districts shows the ground-level roads completely submerged. Even dams and reservoirs are being overwhelmed.

Rescue Operations Underway

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin reached Delhi on Monday to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discuss relief initiatives. Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has been deployed for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), and reportedly, about 12,553 people have been saved and 143 shelters have been employed. 

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Chief Minister Stalin said, “I have asked for Rs 7,300 crore for immediate relief and Rs 12,000 crore for permanent relief,” he said, adding that the TN government has announced Rs 6,000 to those affected by the flood. He also wrote to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh requesting more rescue aid.

I request Honourable @rajnathsingh to urgently deploy more helicopters for rescue and relief in Tamil Nadu's southern districts, severely affected by unprecedented rainfall. pic.twitter.com/aBTUgLTYQQ

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 19, 2023

CM Stalin added that eight ministers and 10 IAS officers have been sent for rescue and relief works, adding that 15 teams of State and national rescue forces are deployed. Helicopters carrying two tonnes of relief materials left Sulur airbase earlier but could not make the drop, given the adverse weather conditions and moved to Madurai. The drop will be made on Wednesday morning, reports said.

Trains have been cancelled and railway engineers are coordinating with other departments to restore the traffic in the affected areas. 800 train passengers were stranded for a few days, and around 300 have shifted to a nearby government school using four state transport buses and two minivans. The rest of the 500 passengers could not be transported due to an overflowing bridge on the way.

Three IAF helicopters delivered food packets for the stranded persons. The rail services in Madurai main line would be restored by Wednesday evening, rescue officials expect. Reports said that the restoration work in the branch lines of Tiruchendur, Tirunelvelu, Maniyachchi, and Thoothukudi would resume after the water recedes.

Last week, the Cyclone Michaung had submerged the capital city, Chennai, leaving people stranded inside their homes without food and water. The people of Chennai suffered from a lack of clean drinking water, food supplies, and sanitation for days even after the cyclone receded.