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Southern Tamil Nadu rains: Chief Minister Stalin seeks more funds from Centre; BJP calls out ‘MissingCM’

The BJP had launched an attack on the Chief Minister Stalin, criticising him for not being in the state during this catastrophe.

South First Desk

Published Dec 19, 2023 | 2:58 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 19, 2023 | 2:58 PM

Floods in southern Tamil Nadu

Floods in southern Tamil Nadu. (Screengrab)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has requested additional relief funds from the Union government, in the wake of heavy rains and floods in southern Tamil Nadu.

The southern districts of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi were among the severely affected by unprecedented rains, as they received their annual rainfall on a single day leading to massive inundation, Stalin said, on Tuesday, 19 December.

Stalin seeks more funds

Stalin is in Delhi to attend the INDIA bloc meeting and has sought to meet with Prime Minister Modi. “Complete relief work could be carried out only if the central government provided the funds fully,” he said.

He would take up this issue and also submit a detailed report on the extent of damages in the southern districts to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his meeting on Tuesday night and seek additional central assistance.

“We have requested additional funds of ₹7,033 crore as interim relief and ₹12,059 crore as permanent relief for Chennai and its suburbs, as this was a major disaster. And we have commenced the distribution of relief of ₹6,000 to each family in the 4 affected districts without waiting for the central funds,” he said.

As the state was coping with the relief and rehabilitation of the four districts, including Chennai where Cyclone Michaung wreaked havoc on 4 December, heavy rains battered the southern districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, and Kanniyakumari, on 17 and 18 December, he said.

‘MissingCM’, says TN BJP

The BJP, in the meantime, has launched an attack on the Chief Minister, criticising him for not being in the state during this catastrophe.

The state BJP on X shared a video of BJP MLA Nainar Nagenthiran rescuing a four-month-old baby from the floods and used this opportunity to attack the Chief Minister using the hashtag “MissingCM”

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai slammed Stalin for not being on the ground. He claimed that the Chief Minister was using the appointment with the Prime Minister as a cover in order to actually attend the INDIA bloc meet happening on Tuesday.

He further wrote, “TN CM’s son, deputed on his behalf, lands to monitor the flood relief with a film director, striking similarity to a former CM of Maharashtra who brought a film producer outside Oberoi Hotel while the shooting and bombing were happening during 26/11.”

Taking a jibe at Stalin, he added, “Relief from the state government seems like a far-fetched dream for the people of South TN. #MissingCM”

Tamil Nadu floods: 39 places recorded extremely heavy rainfall

Stalin to visit Thoothukudi on 20 December

Relief and rehabilitation in the four affected districts would be taken up in the same vigour in which the state government had launched the activities in Chennai and its suburbs, Stalin said, while speaking to reporters in Delhi.

He added that he would personally visit Thoothukudi on Wednesday, 20 December, to oversee the relief and rehabilitation activities.

“The rainfall received in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi was the highest ever recorded in history — in the last 47-60 years. You all know that a year’s rainfall was emptied from the skies in one day. Kayalpattinam alone received 94 cm rainfall,” the Chief Minister said.

On Monday night, Chief Minister Stalin held a virtual meet from Delhi with ministers and district collectors of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari, and Tenkasi, and asked them to continue rescue efforts in full swing as people were still stranded in several areas of Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts.

The quantum of rainfall received was far above the prediction of the IMD for 17 and 18 December, he said.

Eight state ministers and 10 IAS officers, besides trained state forces and 10 NDRF teams, were involved in the rescue operations in the southern districts. The Army’s help has also been sought, he added.

So far, 12,653 people have been rescued and lodged in relief camps and they are being taken care of. Also, food is being distributed to the marooned people through helicopters.

According to the Chief Minister, people from four districts, including Chennai, affected by Cyclone Michaung, were saved due to precautionary measures taken by the state government before and after the cyclone, thereby, minimising the loss of lives and damage to property.

The Chief Minister has also asked for extra helicopters to be deployed for rescue and relief operations.

Also read: Heavy rain pounds 4 districts in southern Tamil Nadu

Current situation

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, rainfall in Tiruchendur leads with 23 cm, followed by Kayalpattinam at 21 cm, Nalumukku at 19 cm, Kakkachi at 18 cm and Manjolai at 17 cm.

Though the rains have considerably reduced, the water has not yet receded and there has been extensive damage to the infrastructure and property.

The Tirunelveli District Collector said that the water has receded in many places and relief efforts are continuing.

The state transportation has also been restarted from Tuesday. The district collector has shared a list of the buses operating from Tirunelveli.

While the floodwaters continue to recede, social media is immersed in photos and videos of the damage caused by the rains and the subsequent floods. Some roads and other infrastructure have been severely damaged. Many have suffered loss of private property, businesses, and are currently taking shelter in relief camps.

(With PTI inputs)

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