Chennai/IBNS/UNI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin Tuesday urged Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to deploy a maximum number of helicopters for rescue operations in the rain-battered southern districts of the State.

In a letter to Singh, he said the southern districts of Tamil Nadu have received unprecedented rainfall in the last two days.

Some locations have received their highest rainfall recorded ever since 1871. Due to this, around 40 lakh people living in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts have been very badly affected.

The situation is particularly extremely serious in Srivaikuntam and Tuticorin towns, due to large flooding in Thamirabarani river and adjoining areas, he said.

"We have mobilized our officers, SDRF and NDRF teams to undertake rescue and relief operations," he said.

Stating that relief materials are being mobilized from all over Tamil Nadu Stalin said that these materials could not be distributed to the people since the connecting roads have been inundated. They can be reached only through helicopters.

As of now 4 helicopters from the Air Force, 2 helicopters from the Navy, and 2 helicopters from the Coast Guard are being deployed for the rescue of stranded people and to drop food items for the marooned, he pointed out.

"Given the enormity of the disaster and the large number of habitations to be covered, we need more helicopters for rescue and relief distribution," the Chief Minister said requesting the Defence Minister's urgent intervention to deploy a maximum number of helicopters immediately.