To alleviate the escalating situation, authorities opened three sluices, releasing 1000 cubic feet of surplus water into the Thamirabarani River.
The Manimuthar Dam, located in Tirunelveli, has a total capacity of 5,511 million cubic feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 118 feet. The decision to release water became imperative due to heavy rains wreaking havoc in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari. The flooding has tragically resulted in 35 reported deaths, with Thoothukudi district accounting for 22 fatalities and Tirunelveli for 13.
In response to the crisis, both the state government and the Centre have mobilized a massive rescue and relief operation to aid affected individuals. Notably, the Indian Air Force conducted air-drops of over 11 tons of relief materials in 12 different locations within the rain-ravaged Thoothukudi district, contributing to a total of 59 tons of airdropped relief materials in the affected areas.
As of Saturday, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena declared the completion of the rescue operation in the flood-affected southern districts. The focus now shifts towards the restoration of basic services. However, communication lines in some districts remain disrupted in the aftermath of the flood.
Continuous heavy rainfall has left roads and railway tracks inundated across the state, leading to the closure of schools and colleges in Thoothukudi district on Thursday. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin reassured the public that all possible precautions and measures have been taken for the safety and welfare of those marooned by the floods.
CM Stalin emphasized the unprecedented nature of the rainfall in Thoothukudi, highlighting the deployment of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) for ongoing rescue and relief operations. Despite the challenges, the government's priority now lies in restoring normalcy and essential services in the flood-affected regions.
(inputs from ANI)
