Tamil Nadu rains December 18 updates | Extremely heavy rains lash South T.N.; Governor Ravi calls emergency meeting

Tiruppur district administration has issued a cautionary notice to villages along the banks of Amaravathi River as the water level in Amaravathi Dam surged to 83.24 feet, as against the full reservoir level of 90 feet, on Monday. The increase is attributed to heavy rainfall (75 mm) in the dam’s catchment area as of 7 a.m.

The storage in the dam is 3412.14 million cubic feet (mcft) against the total capacity of 4047.41 mcft.

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As many as 39 regions in southern Tamil Nadu witnessed extremely heavy rainfall, the India Meteorological Department said.

Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was recorded in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanyakumari districts and light to moderate rainfall at most places in southern Tamil Nadu, the IMD said in a bulletin.

There were 39 extremely heavy rainfall reports, 33 very heavy rainfall reports and 12 heavy rainfall reports from such southern regions. Kayalpattinam in Thoothukudi district reported 95 cm, followed by Tiruchendur and Srivaikuntam (both in Thoothukudi district) reporting 69 cm and 62 cm respectively.

- PTI

Tirunelveli District Collector K.P. Karthikeyan declares holiday for all schools and colleges in the district on Tuesday (December 19) in view of heavy downpour.

Due to heavy rains and flooding in Tirunelveli and adjoining districts, the following three train services have been cancelled on December 19.

Train No.06845 Jolarpettai – Erode Train, scheduled to leave Jolarpettai at 5.15 a.m., Train No.16322 Coimbatore – Nagercoil Train, scheduled to leave Coimbatore Junction at 8 a.m. and Train No.06612 Erode – Tiruchi Train, scheduled to leave Erode at 4.35 p.m., have been cancelled

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking a meeting with him on Tuesday (December 19, 2023) to discuss the impact of the unprecedented rainfall and floods in Chennai and its surrounding districts earlier this month and the flood wreaking havoc in the southern districts at present. 

The number of Ministers deputed for flood relief work increases to nine.

Tamil Nadu government has announced WhatsApp and social media helplines for people from Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari districts affected by extremely heavy rainfall. 

Those who want to report the damages in their areas or in need of rescue, medical assistance or other relief materials can contact the number 8148539914 through WhatsApp. They can also reach the authorities through the Twitter handles @tn_rescuerelief, @tnsdma or the Facebook id @tnsdma.

Almost all the nine small dams and waterbodies are brimming with water following overnight heavy rain, in Virudhunagar district.

Virudhunagar Collector, V.P. Jayaseelan, told The Hindu that water is being released from all dams as a proactive measure.

As of Monday morning, around 40 people from low-lying areas have been evacuated to eight relief centres in the district. Food has been supplied to them. The district administration has set up 40 relief centres in each taluk.

The district administration is also taking steps to bring boats from neighbouring Thoothukudi district to rescue people from marooned areas.

Virudhunagar district had received an average of 148.28 mm of rainfall since Sunday evening till 6 a.m. on December 18, 2023.

People have been asked to call the Disaster Management helpline 1077, State Disaster Management helpline, 1070 and fire and rescue service helpline 101 and 112 for help.

For electricity related complaints, call the Minnagam helpline 94987-94987.

The water level in Vaigai dam has been steadily increasing on Monday with a huge inflow of 17,391 cusecs. The level stood at 66.67 feet (71 feet) at 11 a.m. The first flood warning was issued to five districts, Theni, Dindigul. Madurai, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram, at 8 a.m.

A 75-year-old man, Veluchamy, was killed after a wall collapsed at his house following overnight rains, in Vellammal village in Ramanathapuram district on Monday, December 18.

Police said the man was killed on the spot, at around 11 a.m. His daughter, Ponnuthai (32) suffered injuries to her hip and legs. She has been admitted to the Kadaladi Government Hospital.

Coimbatore district received an average rainfall of 16.61 mm and a total rainfall of 382 mm in the 24 hours that ended at 8 a.m. on Monday, December 18. 

Torrential rains pummelled the southern districts of Tamil Nadu with an unprecedented amount of rainfall on Sunday as the Northeast monsoon is in its vigorous phase. In the past 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Monday, Kayalpattinam in Thoothukudi district received a whopping 95 cm of rainfall.

Extremely heavy rains had pounded several southern districts, triggered by a cyclonic circulation over Comorin area and neighbourhood. Tiruchendur, Srivaikuntam in Thoothukudi district received 69 cm and 62 cm respectively. 

Thiruchendur in Thoothukudi district and Moolaikaraipatti in Tirunelveli district recorded 61 cm each.

The Regional Meteorological Centre has noted heavy to very heavy rains may continue in four districts: Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Tenkasi on Monday as well. Rains may reduce from Tuesday.

The Southern Railway said that traffic has been suspended in the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur section, between Srivaikuntam and Seydunganallur, as ‘the ballast’ has been washed away and the track is ‘hanging’ and water is flowing over the railway tracks.

Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena on Monday said that rains and flooding in South Tamil Nadu are unprecedented and the Army, Navy and the Air Force services have been requisitioned. As many as 84 boats have been deployed for rescue and relief initiatives. 

The government has declared December 18 a public holiday in four districts.

Additional boats have been mobilised in Thoothukudi and nearby towns of Srivaikundam and Kayalpattinam. As many as 7,500 people were evacuated and are housed in 84 relief camps. Through the Common Alert Protocol, SMS alerts were sent to 62 lakh people.

The NDRF and SDRF personnel, Fire and Rescue Service and police teams evacuated people from heavily inundated localities and housed them in schools and marriage halls.

Paddy crop submerged under rainwater due to incessant rainfall in Tamil Nadu Tenkasi’s district. 

Following heavy rainfall in Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari and Tenkasi districts of Tamil Nadu, Aavin company in the State has arranged to provide additional milk packets, powder milk and long shelf life (UHT) processed milk from other districts to the affected areas in order to meet public demand. 

The company issued a notice that stated that sufficient stocks were available to ensure uninterrupted supply of milk to public.

Kayalpattinam in Thoothukudi recorded its highest ever rainfall of 932 mm in the last 24 hours. This is reported more than their annual rainfall received in a day. 

This is also the second highest rainfall after Kakkachi (manjolai) that received 965 mm rainfall in 1992.

Unprecedented rainfall has led to the increase water level in Thamirabarani that has submerged a high-level bridge across the river at the North Bypass Road near Vannarpettai in Tirunelveli, bringing vehicular traffic movement to a grinding halt in this area.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday, December 17, 2023 deputed State Ministers and senior IAS officers to monitor the flood situation and relief distribution in Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Tenkasi districts, which are witnessing heavy rain. 

An official release said Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena held a meeting with the Collectors of these districts through video conferencing and urged them to take all steps to avoid damage and loss. 

As per the Chief Minister’s direction S. Nagarajan, Land Administration Commissioner and former collector of Kanniyakumari, has been sent to the district to monitor the situation and guide officials. R. Selvaraj, Secretary, Tamil Development and Information Department, will be in charge of Tirunelveli district. B. Jothi Nirmala, Secretary, Commercial Taxes will be monitoring the situation in Thoothukudi district while Shunchonngam Jatak Chiru,Secretary, Social Welfare and Women Empower Department has been deputed to Tenkasi.

At least 10 feet of water logging has been reported at the Tirunelveli junction bus stand. The ground floor of all commercial complexes, hotels and lodges around the bus stand are under water. 

Many houses in low-lying areas along Thamirabarani river have been marooned following the torrential rains.

Virudhunagar district has recorded an average of 148.28 mm of rainfall with 11 out of 12 rainguage stations receiving 3-digit rainfall amount till 6 a.m. on Monday.

Rain holiday declared for all schools in Theni district on Monday.

Tirunelveli district collector has declared Monday as a public holiday. 

In Kanniyakumari, AIADMK MLA N. Sundaram and his team, who were travelling on the highway, rescued a group of “Ayyavazhi” pilgrims, from Tenkasi district, who were caught in a flood near Kalluvilai. The pilgrims were trapped in a passenger van. Following their rescue, the vehicle was pulled to safety. 

In Tirunelveli, rainwater has entered the Government Medical College and Hospital premises, an official said, adding that many low-lying areas were inundated.

Following heavy rainfall, Courtallam waterfalls has been closed for tourists.

Rain water stagnation reported at Ramanathapuram Government Medical Collage Hospital on Monday. 

Credits: L. Balachandar 

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast intense rainfall over parts of south Tamil Nadu and coastal districts of the southern region till Monday.

Holiday declared for schools and colleges in Virudhunagar district on Monday owing to widespread overnight rain.