Tamil Nadu: A red alert was issued for four districts—Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Tenkasi—as heavy rainfall pounded southern Tamil Nadu late on Sunday and early on Monday. According to the weather office, a cyclonic circulation that reaches mid-tropospheric levels is presently over the Comorin region and its environs.
Heavy Rainfall and Flooding
On Sunday, there was a lot of rain in all four districts, which caused flooding in a few places. Due to the bad weather, all educational institutions were closed on Monday. Train yards and rail tracks were submerged by the floodwater, resulting in the cancellation or partial cancellation of multiple trains. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports that until 1:30 am on Monday, Thiruchendur in the Tuticorin district recorded an incredible 606 mm of rainfall. Most of southern Tamil Nadu has seen light to moderate rainfall since Saturday, December 16.
IAS Officers at the Helm
The Tamil Nadu government sent ministers to the four districts affected by the heavy rainfall to carry out relief work and make sure that necessary precautions were taken to deal with any flood warnings. According to news agency PTI, the state government has designated four senior IAS officers to expedite relief efforts in the four districts and facilitate coordination with all departments. For related work, four additional officials have also been deputed. Using video conferencing, Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena met with the district collectors of the four districts on Sunday. He requested that they address the situation by taking the necessary preventive action.
Emergency Response Teams
In Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari, three teams of state disaster management teams have been deployed. Advisories have been issued to residents living near reservoirs and in low-lying areas. Private businesses have also been asked to operate with just the bare minimum of personnel. The Pechiparai, Perunjani, and Papanasam dams are releasing excess water, and more than two lakh residents in the impacted districts have received SMS alerts.
Intense Rainfall Takes Toll on Tamil Nadu’s Rail Services
Rail services have been impacted by the state’s intense rainfall, as rainwater has inundated the railway yards and tracks. Many trains have been completely cancelled, and some have only been partially cancelled.
The trains which were cancelled were:
- Train No. 06673 Tirunelveli–Tiruchendur Unreserved Special
- Train No. 06405 Tiruchendur–Tirunelveli Unreserved Special
- Train No. 06674 Tiruchendur–Tirunelveli Unreserved Special
- Train No. 06675 Tirunelveli–Tiruchendur Unreserved Special
- Train No. 20666 Tirunelveli–Chennai Egmore Vande Bharat Express
- Train No. 20665 Chennai Egmore–Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Express
- Train No. 19577 Tirunelveli–Jamnagar Express
- Train No. 16732 Tiruchendur–Palakkad Express
- Train No. 06848 Vanchi Maniyachi–Tuticorin Unreserved Special
- Train No. 06671 Tuticorin–Vanchi Maniyachi Unreserved Special
- Train No. 06668 Tirunelveli–Tuticorin Unreserved Special
- Train No. 06667 Tuticorin–Tirunelveli Unreserved Special
Trains that started their journey on Sunday but had to stop because of flooding in yards and waterlogging on tracks are among those on the list of partially cancelled trains.
- Train No. 20606 Tiruchendur–Chennai Egmore Express is partially cancelled between Srivaikuntam and Chennai, Egmore.
- Train No. 20605 Chennai Egmore–Tiruchendur Express is partially cancelled between Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur. It will be short-terminated at Tirunelveli.
- Train No. 06672 Vanchi Maniyachi–Tuticorin Unreserved Special is partially cancelled between Tuti Melur Halt and Tuticorin.
- Train No. 06847 Tuticorin–Vanchi Maniyachi Unreserved Special is partially cancelled between Tuticorin and Milavitan.
- Train No. 12693 Chennai Egmore–Tuticorin Pearl City Express is partially cancelled between Kovilpati and Tuticorin
On-Spot Measures Urged to Ensure People’s Safety
In the districts of Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thootukudi, and Tenkasi, 250 State Disaster Response Forces and National Disaster Response Forces have been deployed, according to State Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran. “As a precautionary measure, 19 camps have been set up in Tirunelveli district, four camps in Kanyakumari district, two camps in Thoothukudi district and one camp in Tenkasi district to accommodate the people evacuated during calamities,” he said. “The Chief Minister has directed us to be on the spot and take necessary measures to ensure people’s safety,” the minister added. The state government had set up these relief camps where food was being served to the evacuated citizens.
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