Heavy rainfall persisted in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, with Palayamkottai recording 26 cm and Kanyakumari 17 cm of rainfall. Several districts experienced intense rainfall due to a cyclonic circulation in the Comorin area and nearby regions, ANI reported.
VIDEO | Thamirabarani river overflows due to incessant rainfall in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district. pic.twitter.com/lw8v6GaFhF
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Visuals showed flooded streets in the residential area of Selvi Nagar, Sindupoondurai due to continuous rainfall this morning.
#WATCH | Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu: Streets in the residential area of Selvi Nagar, Sindupoondurai inundated due to incessant rainfall. pic.twitter.com/sUI0eVzwOc
— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2023
Meanwhile, people affected by heavy rains and floods in the Tirunelveli district sought refuge in shelter camps. A visual from one such camp showed individuals queuing up for essential supplies. In Thoothkudi district, Srivaikuntam taluka received 525 mm of rainfall on Sunday, with further predictions of extremely heavy rainfall. Additionally, Tiruchender, Sathankulam, Kayathar, and Ottapidram are also expected to experience heavy rainfall.
VIDEO | Heavy rainfall lashes Sivaganga district in Tamil Nadu; schools closed across the district. pic.twitter.com/XWT9LixVD8
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 18, 2023
Despite no reports of house damage, livestock losses were reported in Thoothkudi due to the heavy downpour. Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli recorded 260 mm of rainfall until 5.30 pm on Sunday.
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Heavy rain also lashed parts of Virudhunagar district, prompting the District Collector to announce a school holiday on December 18. Overnight rainfall in Thoothukudi district led to 40 lakes in the Kovilpatti area reaching their full capacity.
VIDEO | Waterlogging on Madurai-Tirunelveli highway amid heavy rainfall in Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/nEgtSSPo1s
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 18, 2023
Lakes at full capacity
For December 19, the IMD has stated that there could be heavy rain in Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Ramanathapuram. There might also be thunderstorms and lightning in a few spots in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal on the same day.
VIDEO | Coutrallam waterfall overflows due to incessant heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi district.#TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/NuKnjBbTc2
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 18, 2023
Due to heavy rain since Sunday morning, the rivers and lakes around Kovilpatti are at full capacity.
Rajesh, from the Thoothukudi district office, said, “40 lakes in Kovilpatti Panchayat are full. Two lakes were damaged and we repaired them. We are continuously monitoring other lakes too. If there is a breach in the lake, we are ready to fix it immediately.”
#WATCH | Railway station at Thoothukudi inundated as heavy rainfall lashes the area#TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/dIqB8WYtev
— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2023
Tamil Nadu government takes precaution
The Tamil Nadu government has taken several precautionary measures to ensure the safety of people. Officers have been appointed to oversee specific districts and guarantee the implementation of proper safety measures. Special teams have been dispatched to areas like Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, and Tenkasi in case of emergencies. Furthermore, 19 camps have been established in Tirunelveli, four in Kanyakumari, two in Thoothukudi, and one in Tenkasi.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Heavy rains in Tirunelveli create flood-like situations; visuals from Courtallam Waterfalls and Manimutharu Waterfalls pic.twitter.com/q2sAjZAqAa
— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2023
Tamil Nadu’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, KKSSR Ramachandran, mentioned that the government has taken various steps to be cautious.
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“As a precautionary measure, 250 State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF) teams and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, and Tenkasi districts. A few more members of the State Disaster Response Force will arrive in Tenkasi district today. Even I will be visiting the flood-affected areas,” Ramachandran said, as per ANI.
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu advised the officers to be present and ensure people’s safety. Tuticorin and Tenkasi districts are also facing heavy rains, causing disruptions in normal life. The Meteorological Department has warned of cyclonic winds in the eastern coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and the Gulf of Mannar.