Heavy rains have been lashing various parts of Tamil Nadu over the past few weeks. A statement issued by the state Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) on Thursday, August 4 stated that Nilgiris district had the most rainfall in the recent southwest monsoon with 67.50 mm of rain between June 1 and August 4. The statement also said that the state received 99% more rainfall than usual (256.3 mm), recording nearly 100 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours alone. Coimbatore received the second highest amount of rainfall (53.46), followed by Dharmapuri (38.63) and Thiruvannamalai (23.27).
The government has set up relief camps across the state to provide shelter for people affected by the rain. According to the statement, a total of 49 relief camps were set up that housed nearly 1,500 people. Erode and Namakkal districts had the highest number of camps with 14 in each district. People housed in the relief camps were provided food and clothing throughout their stay, the statement said.
The weather forecast for the upcoming week predicts heavy rains on August 6 in the Nilgiris and Coimbatore. Various other districts will experience mild to slightly heavy rain on August 6 and 7. Fishermen in the coastal parts of the state have been issued a warning to avoid going to the sea on August 5 as heavy winds between 45-60 km are expected in the Gulf of Mannar.
Chief Minister MK Stalin has directed constant monitoring of districts that are predicted to witness heavy rainfall. Search, rescue and relief teams have been asked to work together with the concerned authorities in districts that are prone to rainfall, including the Nilgiris, Namakkal and Trichy. Nearly 100 officials from the National Disaster Response Force are also part of these teams.
The CM took stock of the situation arising out of heavy rain in several districts in the state on Thursday and ordered the District Collectors not to release water from dams without prior intimation to residents. The CM, who reviewed the situation virtually from Chennai, directed the Collectors to take precautionary measures to safeguard food grains, especially paddy bags, at direct procurement centres.