Southern Tamil Nadu Battles Severe Flooding as Rains Continue
Life has completely halted for residents across Tuticorin and Ramanathapuram districts in Tamil Nadu as relentless heavy rainfall continues to batter the southern region. The situation has turned critical with hundreds of homes completely submerged, major roads underwater, and families finding themselves trapped indoors without access to basic necessities.
Tuticorin District: Widespread Waterlogging and Health Concerns
In Tuticorin, continuous rainfall over several days has resulted in severe waterlogging throughout the city and its surrounding areas. Neighborhoods including KVK Samy Nagar and Nalvar Nagar remain severely flooded, with residents reporting extremely challenging conditions.
Maria Selvaraj, a local resident, described the grim situation to reporters. "It has been raining since morning and flooded roads have made commuting impossible. Water has entered numerous houses. Even if the rain stops immediately, it will take at least a week for the water to drain. With this continuous downpour, the situation is becoming increasingly challenging," he explained.
The flooding has affected multiple residential areas including Anna Nagar and Briyant Nagar, which together contain approximately a thousand homes. According to resident Rajalakshmi, more than 300 houses in KVK Samy Nagar alone are dealing with stagnant water that began accumulating after the heavy showers on November 23rd.
In Mapilaiyoorani panchayat, the situation has become particularly dire. Residents revealed they have been confined to their homes for nearly two weeks due to the flooding, unable to purchase essential supplies. Many are beginning to report health issues, compounded by the stagnant water emitting foul odors and raising concerns about insects and snakes entering homes.
Ramanathapuram District: Power Outages and Infrastructure Damage
Ramanathapuram district faces similar challenges, with authorities declaring a holiday for all schools due to the severe weather conditions. Resident Tamil Selvam reported continuous rainfall accompanied by strong winds that have been blowing for several days, causing the sea to become increasingly rough with waves rising significantly higher than normal.
The storm has caused substantial infrastructure damage across the district. In Netaji Nagar and Kalam Nagar, powerful winds uprooted a tree that fell directly onto an electric pole, resulting in a power outage affecting more than 500 families for over two days.
Coastal areas have suffered significant damage, with Thonithurai Road experiencing severe destruction from continuous battering by sea waves. Tourism has been severely impacted, with officials advising visitors to avoid Dhanushkodi completely due to safety concerns.
Agricultural and Economic Impact
The flooding has extended beyond residential areas to cause substantial agricultural damage. In Tiruchendur, lakhs of banana plantations were completely submerged, forcing desperate farmers to swim through floodwaters in attempts to salvage their crops.
District administration officials have issued advisories urging the public to avoid coastal areas unless absolutely necessary. Fishermen in the affected districts have refrained from venturing into the sea for more than a week, significantly impacting their livelihoods.
The tourism industry has also taken a major hit. In Kodaikanal, all major tourist attractions have been closed indefinitely due to the persistent downpour. Meanwhile, in Kanyakumari, bathing at the popular Thirparappu waterfalls has been banned for the seventh consecutive day as water flow remains dangerously high.
As Tamil Nadu continues to grapple with these extreme weather conditions, residents remain hopeful for relief while authorities work to address the multiple challenges posed by the widespread flooding across southern districts.
