The clouds have moved to the Andhra coast and Chennai has got some respite from the rains, but a tough task lies ahead for the administration. With many people still stranded in the city’s suburbs, teams of the Indian Air Force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the local administration are busy with rescue operations.
The IAF helicopters, boats and military trucks deployed in the city have rescued more than 17,000 people and shifted them to safer locations. Five and a half lakh food packets are being distributed in the city to people who have been left stranded.
Picture of helicopters by Twitter user Shanmugam Sharma
Educational institutions and most offices in the city will remain closed even on Tuesday.
With most lakes and water reservoirs in and around the city filled with rainwater, the authorities are finding it tough to drain away the water. Areas like Velachery received 29 cms of rainfall, while the highest rainfall of 43 cms was recorded in Meenambakkam area on Monday.
Low lying areas across the banks of Adyar River also remain flooded after 18,000 cusecs of surplus water from Chembarambakkam lake was let out through the waterways. The death across the state has increased to 79 in the last few days.
“There is flooding in certain areas. Our first priority is to evacuate people. We have stepped up relief measures in a big way.” Vikaram Kapur, Chennai Corporation Commissioner