Heavy rainfall in south Tamil Nadu disrupts lives, throws train services into chaos

Torrential rainfall in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu has wreaked havoc on daily life and severely disrupted train services in the state.

In a press release, Southern Railways stated that it is diligently working to restore traffic and evacuate stranded passengers at Srivaikuntam railway station.

“Unprecedented rainfall occurred in the districts of Tirunelveli and Tuticorin in the 24 hours from 8:30 hours on December 17, 2023, to 8:30 hours on December 18, 2023, measuring between 670 mm to 932 mm. This has impacted train operations as track parameters have been breached in certain sections of these two districts, resulting in the suspension of traffic,” the release stated.

Southern Railways assured that steps are being taken for the swift restoration of services. The engineering wing, in collaboration with other departments, is mobilizing the necessary materials for restoration. Traffic in the affected sections is expected to be restored by tomorrow evening, pending a reduction in rainfall and water level receding. The restoration work in branch lines will commence after a complete assessment.

Efforts are also underway for the evacuation of stranded passengers. Due to the suspension of traffic between Srivaikuntam and Seydunganallur, the Tiruchendur – Chennai Egmore Express was terminated at Srivaikuntam station. Approximately 300 stranded passengers were relocated to a nearby government school using state transport buses and minivans.

The Southern Railways also reported that an NDRF team from Tuticorin was en route to Srivaikutam station but faced delays due to heavy flooding and breached roads.

The heavy rain and floods have wreaked havoc in several districts of Tamil Nadu, including Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Kanyakumari, and Tenkasi, disrupting normal life and triggering rescue operations in affected areas.