Heavy rain will continue in Chennai for a week, the Met department has warned; the situation may worsen in the next 24 hours.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is rushing about 600 personnel and over 40 inflatable boats to be deployed in relief and rescue operations in rain-battered Chennai.
As the city airport and nearby landing facilities are shut down, 15 teams airlifted from Bhubaneswar and Delhi by the Indian Air Force, will be landing at the 'INS Rajali' airbase in Arakkonam, about 60 km west of Chennai, NDRF chief OP Singh said.
The teams will be fanning out immediately to various places in Chennai on the instructions of local authorities even as the force has stationed two DIG Rank officers and a Commanding Officer to oversee these operations, he added.
Mr Singh said the teams will be also be carrying some relief material with them so that people who cannot be evacuated could be replenished with essential items.
The nearest NDRF unit at Arakkonam has been put on alert and if required more teams wil be pressed in from here, he said.
The force has also activated two helpline numbers at its control room here--011-24363260, 09711077372.
He added about 11 teams, comprising 40 personnel in each, are already working in the Chennai region for relief and rescue operations.
The Chennai Corporation has announced Emergency Contact Numbers for all the regional zones in the city. People can contact the following numbers in case of any emergency due to the floods.
Emergency Toll Free Number: 1910, State Emergency: 1070, District Emergency: 1077, Electricity:1912, Fire & Rescue: 101, Ambulance: 108, Tree fall, waterlogging - 1913, Sewage overflow - 45674567, 22200335
Helpline Numbers: Tiruvottiyur : 09445190001, Manali: 09445190002; Madhavaram: 9445190003, Ambattur: 9445190007; Tondiarpet: 9445190004, Royapuram: 9445190005; Annanagar: 9445190008, Teynampet: 9445190009, Alandur: 9445190012, Adyar: 9445190013,Perungudi: 9445190014
Flood Control Room: 28593990, 044-28410577,9445869843/47