Heavy Rains in Tamil Nadu’s Districts Prompt Relief Measures and Preparatory Actions : M.K. Stalin

Today an emergency review meeting was conducted at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, chaired by the Honorable Chief Minister Thiru M.K. Stalin. The meeting addressed the impact of heavy rains caused by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, the resulting damages, and the ongoing and planned relief and rehabilitation efforts in affected districts.

Over the past three days, Tamil Nadu has been experiencing continuous heavy rainfall due to a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal. Particularly, districts such as Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Thoothukudi have witnessed moderate to very heavy rainfall, leading to flooding in rivers like the Tamirabarani.

On December 13, 2024, the Chief Minister personally visited the rain-affected areas of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Tenkasi. He inspected the flood-hit regions along with district collectors and monitoring officers, assessed the extent of damages, and provided necessary instructions for relief operations.

During today’s meeting, the Chief Minister directed officials to closely monitor water levels in reservoirs and ensure controlled release of water to prevent inundation. He emphasized issuing timely warnings to safeguard lives and relocating people from low-lying areas to safe shelters in advance.

The Chief Minister also ordered the rapid assessment of crop losses and other damages caused by the heavy rains. He urged officials to expedite compensation and relief measures for the affected population.

Earlier Actions:

As per the Chief Minister’s orders, senior ministers and officials, including Hon. Minister for Municipal Administration and Water Supply Thiru K.N. Nehru and Hon. Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management Thiru K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, were dispatched to Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Thoothukudi districts to coordinate relief efforts and expedite rehabilitation work.

Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers assigned to monitor the affected districts are working in coordination with district administrations to oversee and accelerate relief measures.

Rescue Efforts:

To assist district administrations in rescue operations, three teams from the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Response Force have been deployed to Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Thoothukudi districts. Additionally, one team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been stationed in Tirunelveli’s Radhapuram area.

Weather Forecast:

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted the formation of another low-pressure system over the Andaman Sea on December 15, 2024. In light of this forecast, the Chief Minister has instructed officials to prepare proactive measures and ensure readiness for any potential rainfall impacts.

Attendees:

The meeting was attended by Hon. Minister for Water Resources Thiru S. Duraimurugan, Hon. Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management Thiru Ramesh Lakkani, Additional Chief Secretary Dr. K. Manivasan (Water Resources), Principal Secretary Tmt. S. Amudha (Revenue and Disaster Management), and senior officials from the departments of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and other relevant sectors.

Press Release: Issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9.