Chennai: Defence personnel began the rescue operation to evacuate stranded train passengers in flood-hit Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, December 19. Helicopters have been deployed with rope and other necessary accessories to lift stranded passengers at the Srivaikuntam railway station in southern Tamil Nadu. 

"The work has commenced, passengers are being rescued," a Southern Railway official said here. Earlier, food packets were dropped by an Indian Air Force chopper for the passengers by Railway Protection Force personnel.

Railway passengers were stranded at the Srivaikuntam railway station after heavy rainfall, which continues to affect normalcy. The passengers, stranded since early hours of Monday, spent the night in train coaches at Srivaikuntam railway station. Initially, 300 were housed in a nearby school and the others stayed at Srivaikuntam railway station.

On Monday night, troops assisted rescue of over 100 people, which includes 54 women, a pregnant lady and 19 children near Thoothukudi. Medical care and life support was provided to them, the Defence PRO Chennai said in a post on X. Approximately, 800 passengers were stranded at Srivaikuntam, near Thoothukudi and Tiruchendur. 

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.