Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin, had earlier today urged Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to deploy “maximum number of helicopters immediately” to assist in distributing relied materials to those affected as the connecting roads have been inundated. They can be reached only through helicopters, he stated in his letter.

A cyclonic circulation in Southeast Bay of Bengal brought unprecedented heavy rainfall on 17 and 18 December 2023, causing flood like situation in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts affecting around 40 lakh people. The CM informed Singh that some areas received the highest rainfall recorded ever since 1871.

MK Stalin had informed that four helicopters from Indian Air Force, two from Navy and two Coast Guard were being deployed for rescue of stranded people and to drop food items for the marooned. Given the enormity of the disaster and the large number of habitations to be covered, we need more helicopters for rescue and relief distribution, he added.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Defence has stated that six Disaster Relief Teams (DRTs) of the Indian Coast Guard are involved in for rescue of stranded citizens and supply of relief material to the local population in the flood affected areas in Tamil Nadu.

An Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) of ICG with an integral helicopter on-board has been also deployed to monitor the situation in coastal areas of Tuticorin and to respond to any eventuality at sea and shore locations, it informed. The Ministry said that mobile communication network facilities at Tuticorin had been cut off.

Since the Tuticorin airport is closed, Indian Coast Guard is augmenting its assets in 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, the ministry said. In the interim, a Rescue Diver team with paddle boats, Kayaks and one Disaster Relief Team from Coast Guard Station Mandapam have been sent to Tuticorin to assist in rescue efforts.

On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi reviewed the rescue and relief operations undertaken by Central Agencies and Defence Forces in the rain and flood-affected southern districts which was attended by representatives from Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, NDRF, Railways, BSNL, IMD, AAI and Red Cross were present but nobody from the government.