CHENNAI: Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu saw a deluge on Monday after hours of heavy rain. One person died in the Tuticorin district. The state sought help from the Air Force for rescue operations and distribution of food parcels by helicopter. Almost 10,000 people from all four districts have now been moved to relief camps.

In the last 15 hours till 1:30 am on Monday, Tiruchendur of Thoothukudi district received 60 cm rainfall as per reports. Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli district received 26 cm of rain and 17.3 cm in Kanyakumari.

With dams opening in Papanasam, Perunchani and Pechiparai dams, waterlogging occurred in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari districts. Thamirabarani River is overflowing. The Indian Meteorological Department has warned that there is a possibility of heavy rain tomorrow. Heavy rainfall is due to the presence of cyclones over Kanyakumari.

Following the heavy rains, a public holiday has been declared for banks and private institutions in the affected districts. Ministers and senior officials have been tasked by Chief Minister MK Stalin for the rescue operation. A 50-member Central Disaster Response Force is deployed in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin to assist the State Disaster Response Force. Apart from this, 4,000 police officers have also been appointed in the affected districts.

Fishing in the sea is also prohibited due to dangerous wind speeds of 40 - 55 kmph. More than 500 passengers were stranded for several hours on Monday after water entered Thoothukudi Srivaikundam Railway Station. The Tiruchendur-Chennai train with passengers had to be stopped here and it was rescue workers who helped the stranded people out from the train.

With the situation continuing tense, the train schedules have been changed completely. The Chennai – Guruvayur train will only go up to Tiruchirappalli, while Kollam – Chennai will stop at Dindigul. Guruvayur – Chennai train will halt at Nagercoil while Palakkad – Tiruchirappalli will have Tenkasi as its last station.

Express from Madurai to Punalur will start from Nagercoil. Punalur - Madurai service will start from Vanchimaniyachi on Tuesday.