Rescue, relief in full swing as Chennai battles floods

Chennai, Dec 3: Rescue and relief operations were in full swing today in the worst flood-affected areas of Chennai and suburbs and neighbouring districts which enjoyed a welcome respite from torrential rains as Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a Rs 1,000 crore more aid to Tamil Nadu.

Heavy rains continued to lash coastal Cuddalore district, one of the worst affected areas ever since North-East monsoon fury started early last month, and Villupuram and Kanyakumari districts and Puducherry as the death toll in the state mounted to 269.

The city remained virtually cut off from the rest of the country with air, rail and road transport services continued to be suspended while public transport was crippled because of flooding of arterial main roads, including the Mount Road over the Marmalong bridge.

While intermittent rains have been forecast for Chennai, coastal and interior Tamil Nadu will receive more rains in the next 24 hours.

The Grand Southern Trunk Road that links Chennai with Madurai and beyond was cut off after breaches in several places in Kanchipuram district.

The Southern Railway announced cancellation of all inter and intra-state train services till Saturday while the airport operations will remain suspended till Sunday.

Prices of milk, vegetables and food items sky rocketed because of short supply and people were forced to fork out huge amount of money for buying essentials.

With the flood wreaking havoc, Modi undertook an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas of Chennai and its suburbs and neighbouring districts of Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur.

Later he held consultations with Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa at the naval base "INS Adyar" and announced Rs 1,000 crore aid for relief works over and above Rs 940 crore given by the Centre to Tamil Nadu during the earlier spell of rains in November. Jayalalithaa also made a separate aerial survey of the affected areas.

In a brief statement that began in Tamil, Modi said he has seen the extent of damage suffered by the state and shared the misery of people of Tamil Nadu. "I will stand in support of you," he said in his remarks after the review meeting with the Chief Minister.

Teams of NDRF and army personnel and police and fire service men swung into action to rescue people from their flood homes in Kotturpuram, Nandanam, Jafferkhanpet, Saidapet and the suburbans areas of Velacheri, Madipakkam, Tambaram and Mudichur localities where waters had reached upto first floor.

A total of 28 NDRF teams with over 1,200 personnel were deployed in Chennai where they rescued around 5,000 marooned people by deploying over 110 boats. Two NDRF teams were deployed in Puducherry.

Air Force personnel dropped food packets providing succour to the distressed people living on roof tops after floods displaced them from their homes. A total of 14 lakh food packets were distributed, Tamil Nadu government said.

As many as 255 Navy personnel were pressed into service with 12 boats and 15 helicopters for reaching relief.

Though the torrential rains took a break and sun came out in brief spells, new areas of the city like Kodambakkam, Ashok Nagar and T. Nagar were flooded today after overnight discharge of 30,000 cusecs of water from Chembarambakkam, one of the key sources of drinking water for the city.

Adyar river that flows into the sea after traversing through several areas of the city has been in spate after surplussing of water from Chembarambakkam and other lakes on the outskirts.

Diesel and petrol are in short supply and there are long queues of motorists at the few petrol pumps that are open.

Also there was no electricity in most areas. Mobile phones and landline services were choked. ATM and banking services were paralysed. Some Tamil channels were also off air.

Business establishments and most departmental stores, hotels and eateries were shut.

NDRF Director General O P Singh said in New Delhi that the force will intensify its operations in the affected areas from today as more of its men are being deployed on the ground.

He said over 100 boats, 22 divers, 445 life jackets and 328 buoys have been pressed in by the force and more such rescue items are being dispatched.

The force has already tasked two DIG rank officers and a Commandant in Chennai to oversee operations in the affected areas.

A Navy official involved in the rescue efforts said that most of the places are flooded and lot of efforts are going on both on the ground and by air.

Chennai will remain overcast with possibility of intermittent rains. Fishermen have been warned not to go to sea, Area Cyclone Warning Centre Director S R Ramanan told reporters.

A majority of places in coastal and interior Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are likely to experience more rains in the next 24 hour.

As regards north coastal districts in Tamil Nadu and some places will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall, he said.