Flood in Tamil Nadu and its impact on the healthcare system

Abstract

Long and heavy rainfall during November-December, 2015 resulted a devastating flood in Tamil Nadu. As a part of winter monsoon, from October to December each year, Southern states of India, including Tamil Nadu, the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry, receives around 30% of the annual rainfall. In this year between 9-10 November 2015, Neyveli received 483 mm of rainfall;  Cuddalore, Chidambaram and Chennai also continued to lash. Within next two days, low-lying parts of Chennai were inundated, and evacuation of over 1000 people from their houses. Between 15-16 November, 246.5 mm of rainfall in Chennai, flooded most areas of the city. This was the highest amount recorded past 10 years.