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.