A bridge collapsed near Anthony Puram on the Thoothukudi-Madurai highway in the Thoothukudi district as rain-ravaged Tamil Nadu continues to suffer incessant rainfall that has wreaked havoc not witnessed since 1871, particularly in the southern districts.
The record rainfall in the last two days has severely affected nearly 40 lakh people living in the Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts.
The situation remains alarming in Srivaikuntam and Tuticorin towns due to large flooding in the river Thamirabarani and the adjoining areas. CM MK Stalin-led state government has termed the rainfall 'unprecedented', even as four IAF helicopters, two Navy helicopters and two Coast Guard choppers are hovering over the affected region to rescue stranded people and drop food items for those stranded.
Kayalpattinam in Tuticorin recorded a massive 95cm rainfall on Monday, while several towns in Tuticorin recorded more than 60cm of rain with rivers and channels in spate. The 37 monitoring stations in the region recorded extremely heavy rainfall.
Here are the top developments:
The Indian Air Force has deployed Medium Lift Helicopters (MLH) and Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Dhruv for HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) efforts.
Chief minister MK Stalin has urged Union defence minister Rajnath Singh to urgently deploy more helicopters for rescue and relief in the southern districts.
A rescue operation is underway in Tirunelveli after heavy rain has wreaked havoc in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanyakumari, while the Indian Army on Tuesday completed the rescue operation at Nanalkadu.
Considering the reduced inflow of water into the reservoir, the authorities on Tuesday decided not to open the Mullaperiyar dam, which had experienced heavy rainfall in its catchment area the previous day.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday claimed that affected people in the rain-battered southern districts have been suffering for want of food for the last three days.
KKSSR Ramachandran, state's revenue and disaster management minister. said the work of delivering food by helicopter to stranded passengers at Srivaikuntam railway station is underway. He has that tri-servicemen have been trying with six helicopters. The minister said that a total of 625 personnel and 230 trainee personnel are working in the field in disaster recovery.
A rescue operation is underway in Tirunelveli after heavy rain has wreaked havoc in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanyakumari, while the Indian Army on Tuesday completed the rescue operation at Nanalkadu.
Considering the reduced inflow of water into the reservoir, the authorities on Tuesday decided not to open the Mullaperiyar dam, which had experienced heavy rainfall in its catchment area the previous day.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday claimed that affected people in the rain-battered southern districts have been suffering for want of food for the last three days.
KKSSR Ramachandran, state's revenue and disaster management minister. said the work of delivering food by helicopter to stranded passengers at Srivaikuntam railway station is underway. He has that tri-servicemen have been trying with six helicopters. The minister said that a total of 625 personnel and 230 trainee personnel are working in the field in disaster recovery.
(With inputs from agencies)