New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday directed officials to speed up rescue and relief work amid heavy rains in Chennai and several other parts of the state during the last 24 hours.
According to an official release, news agency PTI said 36 districts received heavy rainfall, of which the state capital received the highest rainfall of 134.29 mm, while Ariyalur received the least at 0.20 mm.
Read also | Chennai flood alert: CM Stalin announces two-day holiday for schools, colleges amid heavy rains
Reviewing the situation, MK Stalin oversaw the relief operations at the flooded places during the rains, reminiscent of the 2015 floods.
The Chief Minister visited Kolathur, Perambur, Purasaivalakam, Kosapet, Oteri and distributed food and relief materials to the affected people who were taking shelter in a nearby school.
He asked the officials of the local administration, revenue and public welfare departments to take steps to ensure that there is no waterlogging and the people living in low-lying areas are involved in relief work. Quickly instructed to join.
Instructions were also given to strictly follow the Kovid-19 norms in the relief camps, PTI reported.
Major Updates on Rain in Chennai:
- Earlier, in view of incessant rains, Tamil Nadu government had declared holidays for schools and colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpet districts on November 8 and 9.
- CM MK Stalin also appealed to those who had gone to their native place from Chennai to celebrate Diwali, to postpone their visit to the state capital by three days in view of the incessant rains.
- A 24-hour toll-free number – 1070 has been set up to receive rain related complaints. More such numbers have been shared for relief work.
#gcc Relief Centers Opened!
Below is a list of GCC’s functional shelters. in people #Chennai People who need shelters during rains can occupy these shelters.https://t.co/ne0GPsRAuY pic.twitter.com/9dCz16XWwl
— Greater Chennai Corporation (@chennaicorp) November 7, 2021
- The Meteorological Department on Sunday informed that a cyclonic circulation lies over North Coastal Tamil Nadu, southeast of Bay of Bengal and is likely to become a low pressure area by November 9. It has predicted widespread rainfall in the state for at least the next three days. .Northern areas like Chennai, Villupuram, Cuddalore and delta areas of Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam districts, besides neighboring Puducherry and Kariyakkal are likely to receive rain on Monday. Heavy rain may occur over such areas and very heavy at isolated places and thundershowers may occur.
- According to the official bulletin, heavy to very heavy rain and thundershowers are very likely to occur at isolated places over Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Tuticorin districts on November 9. On the next day, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall with thundershowers is very likely. May occur in the districts of North Coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.“A cyclonic circulation lies over Southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Equatorial Indian Ocean, extending up to 4.5 km above sea level. Under its influence, a low pressure area is very likely to form over southeast Bay of Bengal and neighborhood around November 9. It is very likely to become more marked and move towards North Tamil Nadu coast during subsequent 48 hours,” the bulletin said.
- CM MK Stalin had held a meeting with 15 IAS officers at the Chennai Corporation building, who were appointed surveillance officers for the day.
- With the onset of the north-east monsoon, CM Stalin informed that the state received 334.64 mm of rain between October 1 and November 7, which was 44 per cent more than the normal rainfall received during the season. Districts like Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Tiruvarur, Villupuram, Erode, Karur, Cuddalore, Pudukottai, Perambalur received more than 60 per cent rainfall and 5,106 relief camps have been set up in the districts.
- The Greater Chennai Corporation has set up 160 relief camps in the city, with senior officials overseeing the rain relief work.
- Four teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were sent to Madurai, Chengalpet, Tiruvallur to assist in the rescue work, while SDRF teams have been sent to Thanjavur and Cuddalore districts.
Giving an early warning of floods earlier in the day, state water resources officials had earlier advised the district collectors of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur to evacuate people living in low-lying areas and keep them at safer places.
(with agency input)
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