Tamil Nadu CM Vijay assesses preparedness for Northeast Monsoon in hilly areas, southern districts

District Collectors from Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode, Karur, Madurai, Nilgiris, Sivaganga, Tenkasi, Theni and Virudhunagar participated in the meeting through video conferencing. Photo credit: Special arrangement

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday (September 22, 2026) chaired a review meeting at the Secretariat in Chennai on preventive and preparedness measures taken in the south interior and western districts ahead of the northeast monsoon and measures to prevent dengue fever.

During the meeting, Mr. Vijay reviewed the preparedness of Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode, Karur, Madurai, Nilgiris, Sivaganga, Tenkasi, Theni and Virudhunagar districts. The chief minister directed the collectors to take precautionary measures based on the risks specific to each place in view of the northeast monsoon, an official release said.

Beware of landslide-prone areas

He instructed them to pay special attention to the hilly areas of Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Dindigul and Theni districts to deal with hazards such as landslides, mudslides, hill slope instability and traffic disruption due to soil and stones falling on roads due to heavy rain.

The chief minister also directed district collectors to monitor all landslide-prone places and areas already identified as vulnerable. Mr. Vijay directed officials to speed up slope stabilization works like soil nailing being done in Kodaikanal in vulnerable areas.

He further urged the officials to constantly monitor the key roads and transport links in the hilly areas and to have machines and personnel ready in advance to clear the roads immediately if the connectivity is disrupted. As telecommunications may be affected in mountainous areas during heavy rain, he directed officials to ensure that Very High Frequency (VHF) equipment and satellite phones are operational and conduct mock drills and evacuation drills.

Collectors in southern districts have been asked to ensure that canals, waterways, reservoirs, excess water channels and storm water drainage systems are functioning without obstruction. Necessary precautionary measures should be taken and emergency action plans should be prepared in flood-prone areas.

He also assigned them to oversee the storage of the rice procured to ensure that it was not damaged by rain. Essential commodities required during the monsoon should be identified in advance and stored in designated camps in a ready-to-use condition.

Prevention of dengue fever

Collectors were also asked to determine the number of dengue and fever cases in each district and area where cases are on the rise. They must coordinate with the Ministry of Health and other departments to conduct field inspections through Domestic Breeding Checkers (DBC), identify and eliminate Aedes mosquito breeding sites, implement mosquito and larval control measures, and maintain continuous surveillance in high-risk areas.

District administrations should take awareness measures to encourage people to seek medical help immediately in case of dengue fever. Authorities must ensure that government hospitals and primary health centers are ready to detect dengue fever at an early stage, refer patients for treatment at the appropriate time, provide fluid therapy, treat severe dengue cases, and ensure continuous monitoring.

Minister for Energy Resources and Law CTR Nirmal Kumar; Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar; Additional Principal Secretary Municipal Administration and Water Supply, Gagandeep Singh Bedi; Additional Principal Secretary, Finance, MA Siddique; and Commissioner of Revenue Administration/Additional Chief Secretary B. Chandramohan.

District collectors from Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode, Karur, Madurai, Nilgiris, Sivaganga, Tenkasi, Theni and Virudhunagar participated in the meeting through video conferencing, the report said.

Published – 22 Sep 2026 14:51 IST