RAIN HAVOC: Flash floods owing to heavy rain in the Chennai-Tiruchi-Madurai region washed away the railway track between Kattur and Pullampadi near Tiruchi on Thursday. Many highways were cut off at several points, disconnecting most of southern Tamil Nadu from Chennai. The number of deaths related to rain in the past 24 hours was 14. - PHOTO: M. MOORTHY

CHENNAI : Rail and road traffic to Tiruchirapalli and Madurai was cut off on Thursday as heavy rain washed away a couple of minor bridges and breached the National Highway 45 that connects Chennai to the south.

The Railway and State authorities have mounted a major "operation restoration." Southern Railway is also looking at the possibility of operating trains to and from the south through a circuitous route — via Erode and Karur.

Traffic on the main line between Villupuram and Madurai came to a standstill, with several express and passenger trains stopped midway between Vriddhachalam and Ariyalur, after two minor bridges near Tiruchi were washed away in flash floods from a breached tank. Alert trackmen cautioned the authorities about the dangerous situation in the early hours of the day, preventing any untoward incident.

WATERWAY: Water flowing on the Tiruchi — Chennai National Highway near Samayapuram on Thursday. — Photo: M. Moorthy

The Divisional Railway Manager, Tiruchi, D.K. Saraf, told The Hindu that restoration work would begin once the water level came down. It would need at least 48 hours to complete the task.

To make matters worse, traffic on the Chennai-Dindigul National Highway was also snapped, with water overflowing the highway at three places — between Samayapuram and Irungalur, Thuraimangalam and Eraiyur and at Thozhudur in Tiruchi, Perambalur and Cuddalore districts.

Restoration delayed

At Ambaturai in Dindigul district, where the railway track was breached and obstructed late on Wednesday evening, hectic efforts were on to restore traffic. Heavy rain disrupted and delayed restoration work as the authorities required equipment and men to remove the boulders on the track.

Railway sources said it would take another 36 hours to set a timeframe for the restoration of traffic. "The water will have to recede, the actual damage should be assessed and then the restoration work has to be completed. We are dispatching an army of senior officers and personnel to the sites to be ready to launch restoration operations as soon as possible. In the meanwhile, the possibility of operating trains via Erode and Karur is also being considered. We are already running trains to Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Nagercoil via Arakkonam, Erode and Thiruvananthapuram," a top official said.

At the State Secretariat, Ministers and officials reviewed the flood situation. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has directed some of the Ministers to rush to the affected districts and supervise the relief and rehabilitation work. Officials said the situation was grave in the morning, but with the rains abating in the course of the day and the depression moving away, they expected a significant improvement by Friday morning.

According to information reaching here, at least 14 persons have died in the past 24 hours in rain-related incidents.

Maximum rain in Panruti

Panruti recorded the maximum rainfall of 32 cm in a day, ending 8.30 a.m. on Thursday, with Kallakuruchi reporting 31 cm, Vridhachalam 28 cm, Palani 27 cm, Dindigul 26 cm and Thanjavur 25 cm respectively.

The sources said that the rains in the Delta districts had also caused concern as the inundated fields could affect the just-transplanted crop.

The Coast Guard dispatched an offshore patrol vessel from Chennai on Thursday afternoon following a request from the State authorities.

It is expected to reach the Cuddalore port early on Friday, with a helicopter on board. The chopper will be used to deliver food and relief materials kept ready by the State Government. A Dornier aircraft made an aerial survey of the districts to assess the damage.

The Coast Guard Eastern Commander Rajendra Singh said the force was put on high alert and was ready to respond to any request from the State Government.

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