Restoration of services in Tuticorin airport assists relief operations

The Tuticorin airport which remained paralyzed for the last 3 days due to flash floods, resumed operations on December 20^th facilitating conduct of relief operations for thousands of people marooned around the Port city

The small sized airport was resumed for flight operations on December 20, paving way for the naval team to start their helicopter services. Navy have liaised with the state administration for maximum coverage by air, thus extending the reach of ongoing relief efforts.

With the Indian Air Force helicopters dropping 24 tons of relief materials and the Indian Navy distributing 2.5 tons of items to about 1,000 flood-affected people, the Armed Forces continued their flood relief operations in the affected areas. The Coast Guard also dropped relief materials of about 1,000 kg in the district. The relief materials were provided by the district administration

As part of the rescue operations, the Navy shifted 50 people to safer locations. The IAF team, including a team of Garud commandos, carried out the task of securing the survivors during winch operations.

Meanwhile about One thousand fishermen from Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari coast pressed into service nearly 800 boats and rescued about fifty thousand people marooned in the outskirts of the city. Their operations started within a day when the flash floods hit Tuticorin on December 18^th according to media reports.

IG Donny Michael, commander of Indian Coast Guard East region, oversaw the relief efforts. The Dornier aircraft of the Navy transported 1.2 tonnes of relief material from Madurai to Thoothukudi.

The Madras Regimental Centre column of the  Army was split into three columns and was deployed around Thoothukudi city and its outskirts to assist the relief operations..