Tamil Nadu rain: People were seen wading through water to reach places
Four people died in rain-related incidents in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu. The capital and adjoining other areas are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall tomorrow, the weather department has warned.
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Four people died in rain-related incidents in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu today. About 263 huts and 70 homes were damaged and 16 cattle died. More than 300 people have been evacuated to relief camps after the downpour left several areas waterlogged.
Chennai and suburbs in Chengalpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts have witnessed intermittent rain since Saturday morning. Rain through Saturday night turned out to be the heaviest in recent years after the 2015 floods.
The weather office has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall tomorrow in Chennai, several other parts of Tamil Nadu and adjoining Puducherry.
The Chennai Corporation has set up pump sets in 500 locations to remove the logged water. Further, 1,00,000 food packets were also distributed for breakfast. Relief camps providing food, shelter and medical care have been opened in the city. So far, 2,02,350 people in affected areas have been provided food since Sunday afternoon, authorities said.
"Water is receding fast as we had desilted storm water drains. The 21 cm rain is a challenge and the drain got exhausted," said Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi to NDTV. The Corporation has deployed boats for rescue ahead of likely very heavy rains in the next few days.
Chief Minister MK Stalin, dressed in a raincoat, was seen distributing relief material. Mr Stalin has announced a two-day holiday for schools in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpet, and Kancheepuram districts due to heavy rainfall. He would review the situation at 8 locations today and distribute relief to affected people. Those returning to Chennai should defer travel, the Chief Minister has appealed.
Since the start of the Northeast monsoon in October, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry regions have experienced about 43 per cent excess rainfall, a weather official said.
People were seen wading through ankle-deep water to reach nearby shops to buy essential commodities. Relatively low-level bridges, known as ''tharaipaalam'' in Tamil, were submerged in several suburban areas.
Upon request from the state government, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed four teams to assist in rescue operations.
Authorities say this time on ground officials have been empowered to take local decisions to ensure gradual release of water and avert sudden heavy discharge like the one in 2015 which flooded 4 lakh homes.
