Watch: Daring Video Of IAF Rescuing Stranded Pregnant Woman, Baby From Flood-Hit Srivaikuntam

Defence personnel, by using helicopter have started rescue of train passengers stranded in flood-hit southern Tamil Nadu.

About 800 passengers find themselves stranded in Srivaikuntam due to the relentless heavy rains. As the rescue operation unfolds, the Indian Air Force has released a video showcasing a successful rescue mission, wherein they saved four individuals, including a 1.5-year-old baby and a pregnant woman.

The PRO Nagpur, Ministry of Defence, along with a video, wrote, "Indian Air Force helicopters are deployed for HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) missions in Tamil Nadu due to unprecedented rains in the last 24 hours. Four passengers including a pregnant woman & baby aged 1.5 yrs were winched up and taken safely to Madurai."

The Southern Tamil Nadu was hit severe flood crisis due to heavy rains that have lashed the region. The state and central governments have launched massive rescue and relief operations to help the affected people.

Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was recorded in Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanyakumari districts and light to moderate rainfall at most places in southern Tamil Nadu, the IMD said in a bulletin.

IAF helicopters are deployed for HADR missions in #TamilNadu due to unprecedented rains in last 24 hrs.

Four passengers including a pregnant lady & baby aged 1.5 yrs were winched up and taken safely to Madurai.@IAF_MCC @IafSac @Def_PRO_Chennai @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/y7v1ptSPiL

— PRO Nagpur, Ministry of Defence (@PRODefNgp) December 19, 2023

The rainfall is due to the influence of an upper air cyclonic circulation extending up to the mid-tropospheric levels over the Comorin area and neighbourhood.

On the other hand, work to rescue about 800 passengers stranded at Srivaikuntam in southern Tamil Nadu is 'going on' and the exercise will be completed as soon as possible, an official told PTI.

The Army has also evacuated people from flood-affected areas and provided them with medical assistance. Despite a significant reduction in rainfall across most parts of southern Tamil Nadu, persistent heavy flooding continues to disrupt normalcy.

A railway official in the area said that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Air Force, railway personnel, and local authorities are collaborating on rescue operations. Passengers stranded since the early hours of Monday spent the night in train coaches at Srivaikuntam railway station.

Initially, 300 individuals were accommodated in a nearby school, while the rest stayed at Srivaikuntam railway station. Troops conducted a rescue operation on Monday night, assisting over 100 people, including 54 women, a pregnant lady, and 19 children near Thoothukudi.

They were provided with medical care and life support, as reported by the Defence PRO Chennai in a post on X.

Authorities dispatched additional pumps to drain water to the southern districts from Chennai, and approximately 200 boats have been deployed as part of the ongoing rescue operations.

All arrangements are in place including buses to take the passengers to Vanchi Maniyacchi railway station, 38 km away from Srivaikuntam. A special train will be operated to Chennai from Vanchi Maniyachchi station.