Navy deploys two boats to rescue people in southern districts

With nearly One thousand square kilometers of land marooned floods in 3 southern districts of Tamil Nadu, Navy has pressed into service two boats. The Indian air force which has a base near Coimbatore is yet to respond according to media reports.

Tamil NaduChief Secretary Shiv Das Meena had requested the three services army navy and air force to assist the state administration in rescue and relief effort of several thousand people marooned in the floods caused by unprecedented 100 cms of rain within a day.

The Indian Navy is sending in two boats to help the flood-ravaged people in Thoothkudi following extreme rainfall in the remaining three districts of Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, and Tenkasi.

A defense Spokesperson quoted by media reports said that since flights could not land in Thoothkudi airport, the Navy flight landed at INS Parundu with two boats. "These two boats will be pressed into service to rescue flood-hit in Thoothkudi," the defence spokesperson said.

The entire coastal city Tuticorin which has a major port is flooded with buses and trains being inaccessible due to flooding of the railway and bus terminus.

The chief secretary has requested for IAF choppers from Sulur airbase to airdrop food packets in the flood-affected areas. It is learnt that the Indian Air Force is yet to respond, the media reports said.

"Indian Coast Guard Ship Sujay is stationed close to Thoothkudi and it is carrying out sorties through its Chetak helicopter if weather permits. It could be used for providing relief material, rescue missions as well as a survey of the flood-hit areas," the defence spokesperson stated.

A total of 17 teams of the SDRF and the NDRF consisting of 425 personnel have been deployed for rescue operations in all four southern districts, and two more NDRF teams will soon join the operations in Tuticorin district