India's Tamil Nadu on High Alert as Severe Rainfall Looms After Devastating Flash Floods
Tamil Nadu, India, faces further heavy rain as deadly flash floods wreak havoc, submerging neighborhoods The state braces for more downpours after monsoon rains trigger a disastrous situation
Heavy monsoon rains have caused deadly flash floods and submerged entire neighborhoods in Tamil Nadu, the southern state of India. The Indian Meteorological Department (MET) has forecasted even more downpours after over 400 millimeters (15.7 inches) of rain fell in some parts of the state from Sunday to Monday. This is almost half of the annual rainfall that Tamil Nadu usually receives, according to a CNN Weather analysis of MET data.
Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena informed reporters on Tuesday that the flooding had resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people. This comes as the state continues to deal with the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung, which claimed the lives of at least 12 people earlier this month, affecting a population of 72 million.
People walk through a flooded street in Thoothukudi on December 20, 2023.
Stringer/AFP/Getty Images
Local television broadcasts this week showcased individuals wading through waist-deep muddy water. Footage released by the Indian Air Force shows helicopters delivering food and vital resources to those stranded on rooftops.
The deluge had decreased in intensity since December 18, leading to better conditions for rescue teams. The northeast monsoon in India typically occurs from October to December, resulting in heavy rainfall, especially in the south. Southern India has seen a rise in extremely heavy rainfall in recent years, causing destruction of homes, flooding of roads, and numerous fatalities.
At least 35 individuals lost their lives in 2021 due to the region being hit by severe rainfall. Additionally, 16 individuals perished in a separate instance of heavy downpours in Tamil Nadu a few months prior.
Despite flooding being a common occurrence during India's monsoon seasons, experts warn that climate change is causing these events to happen more frequently and with greater intensity.
China, the most populous nation in the world, is among the countries hit hardest by the climate crisis, with the potential to impact 1.4 billion people across the country, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
