Tirunelveli: Heavy rainfall in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu disrupted life while throwing train services in the state haywire.
At least four people including a woman have been killed in rain-related 
in Tirunelveli district in the wake of unprecedented heavy downpour triggered by cyclonic circulation.
The deceased were identified as Pattati(75) resident of Natarajapuram, Sivakumar (55) Palaykula Vanigarpuram, and two elderly persons from Tirunelveli town. The fatalities were caused by wall collapse and tree fall following incessant rains in the region since Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, Srivaikundam and nearly 50 villages around it are completely cut off from accessibility as the villages were surrounded by heavy floods. The roads leading to Srivaikundam are washed away. Nearly thousands of people are stranded. The NDRF team is trying to reach the region. There is said to be no power and no internet connectivity in the areas.
After Chennai, the southern districts including Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, and Kanyakumari bear the brunt of incessant rain that pounded these districts since Sunday morning.
All the major rivers in Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts are overflowing and rail connectivity to all these four districts has been cut off.
Helicopters of Indian Air Force has been deployed to rescue affected people and drop food and essential item to the people stranded in floods.
Southern Railways in a press release stated that it was taking concerted efforts towards the restoration of traffic and evacuation of stranded passengers at the Srivakuntam Railway Station.
Indian Navy, Indian Air Force (IAF), Coast Guard, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been pressed into action to carry out rescue and relief operations. I
The Indian Navy has deployed ground and aerial rescue teams to assist the flood relief operations by the local administration. A total of 6 helicopters (3- by IAF, 3 by ICG- Indian Coast Guard); 17 rescue teams (Army – 2; ICG-7, NDRF 8), and one ship by ICG with rescue and relief material were deployed in relief operations for south TN floods.
The current situation in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi is nightmarish for lakhs of residents. The Indian Navy dropped relief materials for people in the flood-hit areas on Monday and airlifted them as well.
The Navy personnel rescued 42 persons, including three pregnant women in Tirunelveli. An Indian Navy chopper reached to rescue a pregnant woman who was trapped on the rooftop of her house.
The Indian Army has rescued more than 200 persons, including pregnant women and infants.
The rescue efforts by the Defence forces and the civil administration will continue on Tuesday as well. The relief materials will be distributed to flood-hit districts of Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari.
Disaster control units and the local administration are working day in and day out to rescue, and provide food, shelter, and medical facilities to those in need.
