Tamil Nadu: The death toll rose to 15 in wall collapse due to heavy rains in Coimbatore

The death
toll in Monday’s wall collapse incident rose to 15 as more people were feared
trapped under the debris in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore, officials said, as heavy rains
continued to lash several districts including Chennai.

The compound
wall collapsed on four houses at Nadur in Mettupalayam due to heavy rains.

The heavy
rain over the past two days has already took five lives.

The regional
meteorological centre in Chennai has predicted more showers in the next 24
hours and issued a red alert for six districts in Tamil Nadu.

The district
administration in Chennai has declared a holiday for schools and colleges on
Monday.

According to
Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Agency, schools will be closed in
Chengelpet, Thiruvallur, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukkudi, Ramanathapuram and
Cuddalore districts too.

In view of
heavy rainfall forecast, examinations of Madras University and Anna University
scheduled for Monday have been postponed.

The rain has
partially submerged more than 100 houses in the outskirts of Chennai. Chennai
City Corporation has opened helplines for people who need assistance to drain
out the water.

Farmers in
the delta district said that the sudden rain has affected more than 5000 acres
of the Samba (a variety of rice) crops.

Opposition
leader and DMK President MK Stalin urged the state government to work on a war
footing to prevent damages and loss of life.

The
department said in a release it has enough manpower, equipment like inflatable
rubber boats, long rescue ropes, other tools and vehicles to provide assistance
and help rescue and evacuate those places affected by floods.