Press release by TAMIL NADU Raj bhavan show, GOVERNOR OF TAMIL NADU CHAIRED THE REVIEW MEETING ON THE FLOOD SITUATION IN TENKASI, TIRUNELVELI, THOOTHUKUDI, KANNIYAKUMARI AND NEIGHBOURING DISTRICTS IN TAMIL NADU AT RAJ BHAVAN, CHENNAI ON 19.12.2023 (TODAY).
Hon’ble Governor Thiru. R. N. Ravi reviewed the rescue and relief operations undertaken by Central Agencies and Defence Forces in the rain and flood-affected southern districts of Tamil Nadu today in a meeting held in Raj Bhavan, Chennai, today (19.12.2023). Senior officials of the Armed Forces, Coast Guard, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Southern Railways, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) attended the meeting.
The meeting was held to review the present situation and on-going rescue and relief operations, to bring about better coordination, and to mobilize additional resources for the rescue and relief efforts in the flood-affected areas in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu.
The officers shared the grim situation, especially in Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli. Central Government agencies updated that they have placed their resources at the State Government’s disposal and are doing so as and when requisitioned by the State. They are providing rescue and relief as directed by State and District authorities and also wherever possible on their own. Indian Army has deployed 2 columns.
Indian Navy updated thattheir personnel deployed in INS Kattabomman (Tirunelveli) and INS Parundu (Ramanathapuram) are reaching out to the people. Indian Air Force is carrying out flying operations for rescue and relief through aircraft deployed in Sulur Air Base and Thiruvananthapuram.
Indian Coast Guard with its rescue team, ALH, Dornier aircraft and Kayaks are carrying out the rescue operations in Thoothukudi. NDRF has deployed 10 teams to the affected areas from its 4th Battalion based in Arakkonam.
Some agencies raised concerns about the absence of coordination in the deployment of personnel and a lack of appreciation of the overall situation in the affected districts, due to which they have no clear idea about the exact resource requirements and priorities in their deployment.
Hon’ble Governor asked them to mobilize additional standby resources in view of the grave situation and ensured that he will facilitate additional resources from central agencies.
No official from the State Government attended the meeting, though a request was sent to the Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, to send a representative to the meeting.