“We are asking for more help from the army, the national disaster relief team”, said Atulya Mishra relief commissioner of Tamil Nadu.
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The BBC’s Sanjoy Majumder reports from Chennai (Madras) that many people, particularly in working class neighbourhoods, say they have suffered huge losses and want the government to offer them financial assistance to help rebuild their lives. A total load of 7.5 tonnes has been airlifted by the helicopters.
Radhakrishnan, the health secretary, said Saturday that while the immediate rescue operations were tapering off, the main focus of the administration in the coming days will be to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Many residents are living in shelters after their homes were submerged.
Tens of thousands of people are still in relief camps Saturday as they wait for the floods to recede.
Chennai airport, which had suspended operations due to flooding, is likely to resume technical ferry and relief flights.
Prime minister Narendra Modi, who has blamed climate change for the deluge, travelled to Chennai to get a first-hand view of a rescue effort that has so far been halting.
Rain-related incidents have left at least 245 people dead since October 1, according to Tamil Nadu government.
Power has been restored in many parts of the southern Indian city of Chennai days after severe floods hit the city.
Meanwhile, the causative low-pressure is staying anchored over South-West Bay of Bengal and adjoining Sri Lanka (which too is forecast to witness heavy to very rain) this morning.
The Tamil Nadu public works department said it did issue warnings prior to draining the lakes, but the information apparently did not reach the public because of a breakdown in media and phone communications. Vehicle factories that export around the world were also shut. We have lots of food, we have volunteers ready to go, but we don’t have the boats. They have seen their possessions float away from the house.
A small van that arrived at the top of the flyover bearing water packets and biscuits was immediately overrun by people desperate for relief.
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“We feel quite helpless”, said Malti Soman, standing in knee-deep water in Mambalam, a residential area in central Chennai.
