With rains lashing Tamil Nadu, 639 zonal teams have been set up in the state to identify vulnerable areas. According to reports, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami reviewed the monsoon preparedness in the state on Monday in Chennai. In the meeting, J Radhakrishnan, the Commissioner for Revenue Administration made a presentation to the ministers and other officials about the precautionary measures established across the state to deal with adverse situation arising out of flooding.
According to an official press release from the government, until Monday, eight persons have lost their lives in rain-related incidents across the state, excluding the 17 people who were killed in Mettupalayam on Monday morning, taking the death toll to 25.
Eight persons have also been injured in rain-related incidents. A total of 58 livestock heads have been killed, 1,305 huts and 465 houses with tiled roofs have been destroyed so far due to rain. In the meeting it was also stated that over 4,500 schools and over 100 colleges have been prepared to lodge those who have been displaced from their own houses due to water-logging. Around 2,400 community halls and wedding halls have also been made ready for the same purpose. The government has also sourced 2,100 generators and 480 pumps to help take out water from the flooded areas.
The government has also deployed around 1,000 personnel from the SDRF and over 4,100 persons trained by the SDRF and the NDRF to various districts. 1,800 other personnel have also been deputed across Tamil Nadu. Around 6,600 personnel have been deployed across Chennai to manage flood-related problems.
Tamil Nadu has received 402.6 mm of rainfall since October 1, 2019, which is 11% excess of the normal rainfall the state receives during the Northeast monsoon thus far. Nilgiris, Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Coimbatore districts also recorded huge excesses in rainfall this northeast monsoon season, as per the data from the India Meteorological Department.