Chennai, December 20, 2023: In a devastating turn of events, heavy rains have lashed southern Tamil Nadu, claiming the lives of ten people and leaving a trail of widespread flood and disruption in its wake. The two worst-hit districts, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin, have witnessed record rainfall and rampant flooding, submerging homes, businesses, and agricultural lands.
The sudden torrential downpour, exceeding even the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) predictions of heavy rain, caught several districts unprepared. Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena confirmed ten fatalities, That caused due to wall collapses and electrocution incidents stemming from the floods.
District Collector KP Karthikeyan of Tirunelveli said the situation on ground is challenging, He said, With the situation far from under control, schools and colleges across Tirunelveli and Tenkasi were ordered to remain closed, while a general holiday was declared in Thuthukudi district.
Train services were severely impacted as well, with cancellations and disruptions reported across the affected region. The Southern Railway released a list of affected trains, leaving many passengers stranded and scrambling for alternative travel arrangements.
Amidst the chaos, Chief Minister MK Stalin sought immediate central relief, meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and submitting a formal request to declare the disaster a national calamity. Highlighting the unprecedented deluge witnessed in the past century, Stalin urged Modi to provide financial relief to aid rehabilitation efforts and infrastructure repair.
“The damage caused by these relentless rains is unlike anything we’ve seen in living memory,” stated Stalin. “We need immediate financial support from the National Disaster Relief Fund to effectively address the ongoing crisis and begin rebuilding the lives of our affected citizens.”
As rescue and relief operations continue, with authorities battling surging floodwaters and providing assistance to displaced people, the focus remains on mitigating further damage and expediting Disaster relief efforts.