Rain fury in Tamil Nadu: Trains and flights cancelled in southern districts

Chennai: Heavy rainfall has led to the cancellation of almost 17 trains, including Vande Bharat, as floods wreak havoc across southern Tamil Nadu districts—Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari—disrupting normal life. Flights bound for Tuticorin have either been diverted or cancelled.

Thiruchedur in the Tuticorin district experienced 60 cm of rain in 15 hours, Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli District recorded 26 cm, and Kanyakumari saw 17.3 cm of rainfall.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the state today. Reports indicate that a cyclonic circulation over the Comorin area is exacerbating the situation.

As a precautionary measure, all schools, colleges, government, and private organizations have been closed. Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday deployed ministers and senior bureaucrats for relief and rescue operations, assigning a senior bureaucrat to monitor each affected district in the state.

The Chief Minister has 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, each comprising 50 members, have rushed to Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts, while three State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed in Kanyakumari district as part of rescue operations.

Additionally, 4,000 police personnel have been deployed in the affected districts.

This situation comes days after Cyclone Michaung wreaked havoc in the southern state, leaving people without food, electricity, and Internet for days.