The DG said the force is stepping up its operations each day and now their aim is to provide water and food to as many marooned people as they can. There was relief as water levels in the main reservoirs and rivers began to fall.
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The state of Tamil Nadu witnessed higher-than-anticipated rains throughout November. By all accounts, the state capital bore the brunt.
Nevertheless, she said the weather had improved and some petrol stations in the city, already operational.
“The deaths have definitely not occurred due to power cuts”. The hospital’s back-up power system also failed.
A relatively dry spell in Chennai and its neighbourhood brought relief to the flood affected residents and rescue agencies as hopes of water fast receding went up. Residents complained about lack of medicines, milk, drinking water, vegetables and public transport. Autorickshaws were available and plying, but harried commuters complained of overcharging by drivers.
On December 2, AAI had announced that the airport would be shut till December 6 after heavy rains caused flooding of the runway and nearby operational areas.
He spoke too soon. Meanwhile after a brief respite, Chennai will once again witness increase in rain from Saturday evening. Similarly, there has been considerable decline in discharge of water from Puzhal, Pondi and Madurantakam lakes among others.
The Prime Minister made an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas of Chennai, its suburbs and Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts.
Three naval warships carrying small boats, divers and other equipment moved to Chennai from Visakhapatnam as naval air base INS Rajali, located around 60 kms from Chennai, became hub of the relief operations in “Operation Madad”.
Singaporeans travelling to or living in Chennai are encouraged to register with the ministry. The Speaker also shared the concern of the disruption of communication facilities at the rain-battered city and difficulty to communicate with Keralites there. The official web site of the Tamil Nadu government crashed on Friday.
Vehicles were unusable in flooded areas of Chennai. People in many areas opened up their homes to the distressed.
Modi was conducting an aerial survey of the damage to the region, following days of incessant rains, which have killed at least 269 people and rendered thousands homeless, the Indian Express newspaper reported Thursday.
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Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, however, demanded Rs.5,000 crore.
