Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu): Incessant downpours in southern Tamil Nadu have left young Shiva Shakti crestfallen. Not only has the flood ruined this teen student's house, but also shattered her dreams of doing well in her exams. "All my books have been washed away. My exams are approaching and I do not know how I will study. I am worried about my future," says Shakti who has taken refuge at a relief centre with her family.
Shakti is not the only one at the receiving end of nature's fury in Tamil Nadu. Sentura Mohan's belongings are nowhere to be traced and he is left with nothing. A resident of Sindhu Poonthurai, Mohan said, "My house has been damaged. The money which I saved for my son's education is gone. Hardships beckon us."
As incessant rains threw life out of gear, around 100,000 cubic feet of water flowed into the Thamirabarani River, resulting in heavy floods in the metropolitan district and suburbs. Areas along the banks of the rivers like Kokkarakkulam, Vannarappettai, Suthamalli, Melapalayam, Nellai Junction, Udayarpatti, Mani Murtheeswaram and Thachanallur have also had to bear the brunt.
Many places recorded rainfall above 40 cm on a single day with Kayalpattinam in Thoothukudi district clocking 95 cm. Besides the rains, the heavy discharge of 1.25 lakh cusecs of water into the Tamiraparani river had brought two districts under a sheet of water.
At least 10 people died and the entire southern region of Tamil Nadu was paralyzed due to the unprecedented rainfall that resulted in individuals, families and even a train full of people left stranded for several days. The state government, assisted by the armed forces, is engaged in a massive rescue and relief operation.
With heavy rains lashing Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari and Tenkasi districts, victims stare down the barrel. The challenge is to come out of this calamity and restart life. People affected, demand the state government provide all necessary support as it will take over two months to bring their lives back on track.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who returned here from New Delhi on Wednesday morning, reviewed the relief and rehabilitation works carried out in the Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanyakumari districts which were affected by 'historic' rainfall over the last two days.
Upon reaching the state, Stalin visited the State Emergency Operation Centre. Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena briefed him about the government's relief work in the four southern districts. Later, the CM also held a meeting via video conferencing with the IAS officers who have been appointed by the government to monitor the rehabilitation work along with the representatives of the administration of the affected districts.
Meanwhile, the Office of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday assured that the Central Government was providing all possible assistance to Tamil Nadu in the wake of incessant rains in its southern districts.
Tirunelveli District Collector KP Karthikeyan while speaking to ANI on Wednesday said that more than 50,000 people have been rescued. He said, “Within 24 hours we have completed the rescue operations of more than 50,000 people. We have made effective management of dam release. We got a good response from SDRF, NDRF and the army.”
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