Unprecedented rainfall and flooding in multiple districts of Tamil Nadu have left at least 10 people dead and brought the region to a standstill.
On Tuesday, Defence, national and state disaster response forces spearheaded joint rescue and relief operations amid a brief respite from the incessant downpour.
In Thoothukudi, which was among the worst affected areas, rescue teams distributed food and essential items, and evacuated people from flooded colonies.
An aerial view of Srivaikuntam town of Thoothukudi district showed waterlogging in multiple areas.
Similar was the situation in Tuticorin in Thoothukudi district as it witnessed severe waterlogging following heavy rainfall.
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According to ANI, the first Indian Coast Guard ALH helicopter took off from Madurai on Wednesday morning carrying 350 kg of material to be airdropped in rain-affected areas of Thoothukudi. Also, there will be a second helicopter which will carry 350 kg of relief materials.
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Besides Thoothukudi, several other districts in Tamil Nadu, including Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Tenkasi and Kanyakumari were also affected due to incessant rain over the past few days.
In Tirunelveli, several buildings were submerged as the Tamraparni river was flooded due to heavy rains.
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Visuals from the Manimuthar Waterfall showed a flood-like situation.
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Earlier, the Southern Air Command informed that Indian Air Force helicopters, Mi-17 V5 and ALH had flown more than 20 hours, operating in inclement weather, and had air-dropped over 10 tons of relief material and evacuated stranded personnel, including a woman and a child from rooftop and isolated areas in Tamil Nadu.
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Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena on Tuesday informed that 160 relief camps have been set up where around 17,000 people have been accommodated.
Around 323 boats and nine helicopters are involved in the rescue operation across the state.
Meanwhile, an inter-ministerial central team is likely to visit Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, PTI reported.
The team will assess the damage caused by unprecedented flooding and rainfall in four districts of the state.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will visit the flood-hit regions on Thursday. Stalin met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital on Tuesday to seek an interim relief of ₹2,000 crore for affected districts to bolster ongoing rescue efforts.
Kayalpattinam in Tuticorin has received the highest rainfall of 1,192 mm in the last two days while Tiruchendur received 916 mm.
