Even as monsoon rains continued to lash the southern districts, the IAF and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) responded with lightning speed to an SOS from Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam to rescue 10 persons caught in floods in Dindigul district on Tuesday.
The 10 persons, including Varshini (14 years) and Surya (16), who were trapped at Kallipatti village of Oddanchatram taluk, were bailed out to safety by the contingents with assistance from the district administration.
The flood was caused by a heavy rainfall of 20.2 cm in Palani and Kodaikanal on Monday and the consequent breach of Nallathangal Odai and another stream.
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A helicopter from Sulur IAF base reached the spot at 2.20 p.m. and 40 members of the NDRF left Arakkonam and reached Dindigul by road. The IAF had a 10-member contingent. By 3.45 p.m., all the affected persons were rescued. Dindigul Collector N. Venkatachalam said the condition of rescued persons was stable.
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Palani-Dindigul, Palani-Kodaikanal and Bodi-Munnar highways were closed for traffic due to heavy flow of rainwater or landslip.
Vehicles bound for Dindigul, Tiruchi and Madurai from Palani and Udumalpet were diverted through Thoppampatti to reach Oddanchatram as Palani-Dindigul highway was closed.
A massive landslip at Idivizhundhan Odai near Saverikadu blocked Palani-Kodaikanal highway, halting traffic for several hours.