Amidst Heavy Rainfall, A Glimmer of Hope For Chennai
The Quint brings live updates from the flood-ravaged parts of Chennai, as Tamil Nadu remains submerged.
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Nearly 100 People Stranded in Chennai Brought to Hyderabad
The defence forces actively involved in relief and rescue efforts in rain-battered Tamil Nadu brought 99 passengers stranded at the Chennai airport to Hyderabad on Thursday.
“Ninety-nine stranded passengers including women and children at Chennai Airport and other places were brought by a transport carrier of Indian Air Force C-17 which landed this evening at the Air Force Station, Begumpet,” a defence release said in Hyderabad.
The authorities arranged food, water and necessary medical assistance to the stranded passengers and sent them to Hyderabad airport and railway stations by arranging special buses, it said.
ATM’s Out
With ATMs not functioning, many battling Chennai rains are left without physical cash on them. In light of this situation, banks have been advised to ensure their ATM’s are functional for the welfare of the public.
Hope For A Battered Chennai
At the end of another day of heavy rain in Chennai, a few things are looking up. Rescue operations have been stepped up, and the centre and state governments have offered financial aid.
Meanwhile, a recent college graduate’s simple effort to collect and disburse data of aid available to the people of Chennai, has brought about a website — chennairains.org, reports The Indian Express. The website compiles data from social media and messenger apps and feeds it into a spreadsheet, which is now public.
Amidst power cuts and massive shortages in essential commodities like milk and vegetables, the Prime Minister, who flew to Chennai to assess the situation has announced Rs 1000 crore over and above the assistance the central government has already made available to Tamil Nadu.
Rescue Efforts Stepped Up
Times Now reports that 99 passengers have taken off from INS Rajali. Passengers are being taken to Hyderabad.
Water will be released from Adyar River; people living in and around the area have been asked to vacate the area, even as more rainfall has been predicted in Tamil Nadu.
The News Minute Reports From Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu
Prime Minister Modi has met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and Governor K Rosaiah in Chennai. He is in the city to take stock of the situation.
Inundated roads in Chennai have been mapped. This is a crowdsourced effort, and a flooded street can be reported by zooming into the map and clicking on the afflicted area. Information about flood relief centres is also available. Access the map here.
Rajnath Singh Discusses the Floods in the Rajya Sabha
Addressing the Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh explains the current situation in Chennai to the House, following Wednesday’s discussion on the floods.
Heavy Rainfall in Puducherry and Nagapattinam
Light rainfall continues in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu. The MeT department has confirmed that heavy rains continue to pelt Puducherry and Nagapattinam.
Times Now reports that even as people are stranded in Chennai, with irregular access to basic necessities, roads in Puducherry have flooded and are becoming difficult to navigate.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Chennai at INS Rajali.
Indian Air Force’s rescue aircraft from Tambaram carrying stranded people is to arrive in Palam shortly, reports Times Now.
Floods Dig a Hole in Common Man’s Pocket
One litre packets of milk were being sold for Rs 100 in some places while vegetables like tomato and beans were being sold at elevated prices of Rs 80 to Rs 90 per kg.
For the third consecutive day, power, transport and telephone facilities were affected due to the rains and ensuing floods.
The price of mineral water also hit the roof, with a 20 litre bottle normally available for Rs 30 being sold for Rs 150 per bottle.
Forces Join Hands to Help Chennai
The Indian Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel are being carried by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The NDRF has rescued over 5000 people till now through High Availability Disaster Recovery (HADR) operations.
The IAF has been in action since December 2. The number of NDRF rescue teams assigned for rescue work have been almost doubled today, compared to yesterday.
Chennai Aerial View
NDRF Doubles Strength of Rescue Teams to 1,200
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have doubled the number of their rescuers to 1,200 in rain- and flood-battered Chennai and adjoining areas, even as the force today decided to penetrate deep into the affected areas to aid those marooned.
Here is a List of Helplines People Stranded in Tamil Nadu Can Use
- The Indian Air Force has air-dropped over 9 lakh food packages in the flood ravaged areas.
- Actor Mammootty has shared a list of civilians who are offering to help the victims in the city with accommodation.
- A crowdsourced list of whatever help is available is being collated by Chennairains.org.
- NDRF control room in Delhi has issued its helpline number for assistance:
011-24363260
+919711077372
Home Minister Addresses Tamil Nadu Situation in Lok Sabha
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in the Lok Sabha, is speaking about the havoc caused by the floods in Tamil Nadu.
The death toll in Tamil Nadu has risen to 269 and Andhra Pradesh has lost 24 citizens to the incessant rainfall.
The rescue forces have also been increased in the affected states, he said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has also conducted an air sortie over the city to take stock of the situation. PM Modi has left for Chennai.
Light Rainfall in Parts of Chennai Resumes; Relief Packages Airdropped
Light rainfall has started in parts of Chennai – Koyambedu,Vadapalani, Ashok Nagar and Ekkaduthangal.
According to reports, the rescue forces have air-dropped 9 lakh food packages in the city.
PM Modi Will be Taking Stock of the Situation in Chennai
President Pranab Mukherjee Writes to Governor of TN
President Pranab Mukherjee has written to the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Dr K Rosaiah, sharing his concern for the people affected by the flood situation in the state.
The rainfall has subsided even though it hasn’t stopped altogether. An employee of the Meteorological Department, LS Rathore has expressed concern that, “even a light drizzle is proving to be a hindrance in rescue operations.”
Heavy rainfall has ravaged parts of Tamil Nadu. Chennai, the capital city, has come to a standstill due to heavy waterlogging.
The Indian Navy, Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and civilian organisations have come to the aid of victims.
Heavy rains have claimed 197 lives in the state.
Rainfall has affected all forms of transport, effectively freezing the day-to-day life in the metropolitan city.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a Cabinet-level meeting yesterday to discuss the situation in Chennai. Rescue teams were deployed after the meeting.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh will issue a statement in Parliament today – the seventh day of winter session.
The Quint brings you live updates on the Chennai flood situation.