Tamil Nadu

TN update: Rescue operations in full swing as parts of Tamil Nadu remain marooned

The Met department has predicted that Chennai will see rain today
TN update: Rescue operations in full swing as parts of Tamil Nadu remain marooned
TN update: Rescue operations in full swing as parts of Tamil Nadu remain marooned
Written by:
TNM Staff

Rescue operations are currently underway in full swing for the citizens of rain-hit Tamil Nadu and its water-logged capital of Chennai.

After all flights from the Chennai airport were cancelled till Sunday, limited commercial flight operations are likely to start from the Rajali naval air station in Arakkonam, near Chennai, on Friday.

With the Chennai airport inundated, the Navy's base at Arakkonam is presently serving as a makeshift airport for supplying relief material and bringing in National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams.

Seven flights are expected to take off from the city today, with emergencies getting the highest priority.

The Meteorological department has predicted that Chennai will see 'rain' today while other areas of Tamil Nadu like Tiruvarur and Thanjavur will see 'very heavy rain'. 

Nandanam, Pulichur, Velacherry, Saidapet, Tambaram, West Mambalam and Porur are likely to be hit again as it is expected to rain for the next 24 hours. Rescue operations are hit in Pulichur area after water was released from the Chembarakakkam reservior.

NDTV reported that there was no rain in a few areas in Chennai, but areas are like Kodambakkam, T Nagar and Ashok Nagar have been flooded because the of the 30000 cusecs of water from Chembarabakkam lake which is one of the sources of Chennai's drinking water.

In areas like Ekatuthanhal, Mylapore and Teynampet, the water level has receeded.

The Poondi reservoir in Tiruvallur district overflowed on Thursday, resulting in a flood alert being issued to at least fifty villages in the surrounding area.

Army teams have been operating in the worst hit areas including Tambaram, Mudichur, Kothurpuram, Pallavaram, Thiruneermalai, Urapakkam, Manipakkam, T Nagar and Gudvancheri.

Officials have warned people living in low-lying areas along the Adyar river to relocate to safer areas as the day-to-day functioning of people has being affected here.

Read: Visit to the shelter that's now home to an entire colony submerged by the Adyar river

Meanwhile, as many as 30,000 people have been evacuated from Kanchipuram district and disaster relief personnel are evacuating more people from waterlogged areas. Authorities say that 72 people have died in the rains that have lashed the region for the last 10 days.

Read: 72 dead, over 30,000 rescued from inundated Kanchipuram

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, home minister Rajnath Singh had earlier said that the floods have left over 269 dead in Tamil Nadu and 54 dead in Andhra Pradesh.

The minister also added that Chennai received 330 mm of rain in 24 hours beginning December 1, 8:30 pm, thereby "breaking a 100-year record". 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday instructed the central government to release Rs 1,000 crore for relief and rescue operations in rain-hit Tamil Nadu after an aerial survey of the state and its water-logged capital.

"I have seen the damage and misery caused by the extremely heavy rainfall. The government of India stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Tamil Nadu in this hour of need. I have directed that Rs 1000 crore be released immediately to Tamil Nadu for immediate relief. This is over and above the Rs 940 crore, which was released earlier," he told a gathering of reporters.

Read: Want to help TN flood-affected? Contact these people to donate money, relief material

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