Extremely heavy rains unleashed floods across four districts of southern Tamil Nadu, disrupting normal life in Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Tenkasi and Kanyakumari districts of the state.Thiruchendur in the Tuticorin District witnessed 60 cm of rain in just 15 hours till 1:30 am. Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli District recorded 26 cm. Meanwhile, Kanyakumari saw 17.3 cm of rainfall.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall today as well. A cyclonic circulation over the Comorin area is exacerbating the situation.
Chief Minister M K Stalin today deployed ministers and senior bureaucrats for relief and rescue operations, with a senior bureaucrat assigned to monitor each affected district. Mr Stalin also instructed District Collectors to keep relief centres and boats prepared in vulnerable areas and evacuate people early if required.
Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams comprising 50 members each have rushed to Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts, while three State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed in Kanyakumari district.