After heavy rains lashed the southern districts of Tamil Nadu leading to floods, 10 people have died in the battered Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts, even as the focus of the administration remains on relief and rescue operations.
Over 3,500 people from the worst-hit 36 villages and two town panchayats in Tirunelveli district were relocated to 75 relief camps from their marooned homes in low-lying areas, especially along the watercourse of Tamirabharani river. Along with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Fire and Rescue Services, police and the trained disaster management volunteers were involved in rescuing the families stranded in the flooded houses. Around 35 boats have been pressed into service to rescue the people.
A sizeable number of irrigation channels in the affected areas helped to drain the flood water into fields and back into the Tamirabharani river. Hence, stagnant flood water in more than 50% of the inundated places including Tirunelveli Junction Bus Stand has been drained.
