The past few weeks have shown the pivotal role played by the fire and rescue services personnel in saving thousands of lives in the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung in Chennai and its neighbouring areas and the unprecedented rain in the southern districts of the State.
Several senior fire and rescue services personnel told The Hindu that they had never experienced such a crisis in a career spanning decades. They never expected that the year-end downpour would turn life upside down in Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli.
District Fire Officer M. Manoprasanna said that though the department deployed several teams before the onset of the rain, the unprecedented flood that followed necessitated more personnel, vehicles and equipment to bring the situation under control.
