Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin wrote to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday urging to deploy more helicopters in the southern districts of the state to aid rescue and relief operations in the severely affected areas due to unprecedented rainfall. The CM said that till now eight helicopters including four from the Air Force, 2 from the Navy and 2 from the Coast Guard have been deployed for the rescue of stranded people.
In the letter, CM Stalin said, “As of now 4 helicopters from Airforce 2 helicopters from Navy and 2 helicopters from Coast Guard are being deployed for the rescue of stranded people and to drop food items for the marooned. Given the enormity of the disaster and the large number of habitations to be covered, we need more helicopters for rescue and relief distribution.”
Hence, the CM requested the urgent intervention of the Union Minister to deploy a maximum number of helicopters immediately.
Earlier, CM in the letter explained the scenario on the field, especially in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts. The CM said, “The southern districts of Tamil Nadu have received unprecedented rainfall in the test two days. Some locations have received their highest rainfall recorded ever since 1871. Due to this, around 40 lakh people living in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts have been very badly affected.”
The CM said, the situation was particularly extremely serious in Srivaikuntam and Thoothukudi towns, due to large flooding in Thamirabarani river and adjoining areas.
On the need for deploying more helicopters, CM said, “We have mobilized our offices SDRF and NDRF to undertake rescue and relief operations. Relief materials are being mobilized from all over Tamil Nadu. But these materials could not be distributed to the people since the connecting roads have been inundated. They can be reached only through helicopters.”