In the wake of the devastating floods caused by the unrelenting rain in Tamil Nadu, PM Modi has left for Chennai to get a firsthand account of the emerging situation.
Modi tweeted, “Leaving for Chennai to take stock of the situation arising due to the devastating floods.”
Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa has also started a survey of the flood-hit areas.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that the death toll in Tamil Nadu so far has reached 269, while adding that Chennai Railway Station has been shut due to waterlogging.
The minister said in the Lok Sabha, “The MeT department has predicted heavy rainfall for the next 2 to 3 days. About 40% of the mobile and telephone connections are not working due to floods”.
The minister added that out of 30 teams deployed by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), two have been stationed in Pondicherry.
NDRF DG OP Singh has said that they have rescued around 2400 people so far from Chennai with more than 100 boats pressed into service.
IAF has airlifted about 200 stranded people from Chennai and they are being brought to the air base in Begumpet, Telangana.
Navy Chief Admiral RK Dhowan has said, "We carried out an innovative survey of the flood-affected areas using UAVs where we could in order to assist the state administration. INS Rajali has been activated and all relief material as well as civil flights are operating from our corner".
He added that naval ship INS Airavat has also arrived in Chennai with relief supply with food packets being distributed by navy personnel.