Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin evaluated the extensive relief and rehabilitation initiatives in the aftermath of 'historic' rainfall that wreaked havoc on Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Kanyakumari over the last 48 hours.
Upon arrival, Stalin visited the State Emergency Operation Centre, where Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena provided a comprehensive briefing on the government's ongoing relief work in the affected districts of the southern state.
A subsequent video conference with appointed IAS officers and district administration representatives was convened to discuss and monitor rehabilitation efforts.
The districts of Tenkasi, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, and Tuticorin bore the brunt of the torrential rainfall, causing widespread disruption to normal life.
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During the review meeting, Chief Minister Stalin issued directives to ensure the swift provision of medical aid and essential amenities to those sheltered in relief camps. He specifically inquired about rescue operations in areas rendered inaccessible due to heavy flooding.
District collectors were urged to expedite rescue efforts and facilitate the prompt delivery of food packets to affected villagers.
Stalin also engaged with his cabinet colleagues — Minister for Public Works EV Velu, Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management K K S S R Ramachandran, Minister for Finance and Human Resources Thangam Thennarasu, and Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration P Moorthy — who were deployed to oversee the ongoing rescue operations.
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Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena, in a press briefing, revealed that approximately 27 tonnes of food had been supplied to residents in the four districts, with 10 helicopters mobilized for emergency services.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Stalin appealed for the release of Rs 2,000 crore from the National Disaster Relief Fund to reinforce livelihood support and repair public infrastructure damaged during the flooding on December 17 and 18 in the southern districts.
The record rains severely impacted nearly 40 lakh people in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin, with Srivaikuntam and villages near Tiruchendur bearing substantial damage due to flooding in the Thamirabarani river.
Simultaneously, the Southern Railway took precautionary measures by canceling 19 trains passing through the inundated railway tracks in these four affected districts.
