The Army and Coast Guard are set to be involved in rescue and relief operations and a total of 425 disaster relief personnel are deployed.
Published Dec 18, 2023 | 8:38 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 18, 2023 | 8:38 PM
Tamil Nadu witnessed heavy rains that have caused severe flooding. (X)
The storage in major dams and reservoirs in southern Tamil Nadu ranged between 80 and 100 percent on Monday, 18 December, following heavy rainfall, the government said.
The Army and Coast Guard are set to be involved in rescue and relief operations and a total of 425 disaster relief personnel have been deployed and Thoothukudi airport is closed.
The Coast Guard’s six disaster relief teams have been deployed for rescue and relief operations, authorities said in Chennai on Monday.
Consequent to the closure of Thoothukudi airport, the Coast Guard is augmenting its assets in the area by positioning a fixed-wing Dornier aircraft and an ALH helicopter at Madurai to support rescue and relief efforts in flood affected areas, including transportation of key NDRF personnel from Chennai, a Defence release said.
Presently, mobile communication network facilities are not available at Thoothukudi.
A rescue diver team with paddle boats and kayaks, and one disaster relief team from the Coast Guard Station Mandapam have all been sent to Thoothukudi to assist rescue efforts.
Six disaster relief teams (DRTs) from the Coast Guard have been deployed for rescue and relief operations in coordination with district authorities.
Further, an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of the Coast Guard with an integral helicopter onboard has been deployed to monitor the situation in coastal areas of Thoothukudi and to respond to any eventuality at sea and shore locations.
Coast Guard district headquarters at Thoothukudi is maintaining close coordination with the administration of both Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts.
The Tamil Nadu government has sought the assistance of the Coast Guard for the rescue of stranded citizens and supply of relief materials such as food and medicine to the local population in the flood affected areas.
While the storage in Manimuthar dam was 83.10 percent, it was 89.54 percent and 80.73 percent in Papanasam and Servalar dams respectively, an official release said.
Vadakku Pachayiyar and Nambiyar dams reached 100 percent storage. In Kodumudiyar and Kadananadhi it was 88.25 percent and 89.88 percent. Surplus water continues to be released with copious inflows. All the dams are in Tirunelveli district.
In Kanyakumari district, the storage in four key dams and reservoirs ranged between 91.77 percent and 94.70 percent.
In the four districts of Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Thoothukudi and Tenkasi, 225 State Disaster Response Force personnel divided into nine teams have been deployed.
In such districts, National Disaster Response Force’s (200 personnel) eight teams have been stationed and two more NDRF teams are set to be deployed.
Nearly 7,500 people belonging to 1,545 families have been housed in 84 relief centres, such as schools and marriage halls, and 84 boats are in use for rescue purposes.
(With PTI inputs)
