Chennai Rains: CM MK Stalin Directs Authorities To Expedite Relief Work | Check Key Updates

Reviewing the situation, MK Stalin monitored relief operations in places inundated during the rain, reminiscing the 2015 deluge.

Chennai: Commuters wade through a waterlogged area following heavy rain in Chennai, Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. A flood alert has been sounded to people living in Chennai suburbs. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday directed officials to expedite rescue and relief work amid heavy rainfall in Chennai and several other parts of the state during the last 24 hours.

As many as 36 districts received heavy rainfall, of which the state capital recorded the highest amount of 134.29 mm, while Ariyalur saw the least with 0.20 mm in the last 24 hours, news agency PTI reported citing an official release.

Reviewing the situation, MK Stalin monitored relief operations in places inundated during the rain, reminiscing the 2015 deluge.

The Chief Minister visited Kolathur, Perambur, Purasaiwalkam, Kosappet, Otteri and distributed food and relief materials to affected people sheltered in a school nearby.

He also directed authorities to 'swiftly' engage in relief work while asking the officials of local administration, revenue and public welfare departments to take steps to ensure that there was no waterlogging and that people living in low-lying areas are evacuated. 

Instructions were also given to adhere to Covid-19 norms strictly in relief camps, PTI reported.

Key Updates On Chennai Rains:

• Earlier, in view of the incessant rainfall, the Tamil Nadu government declared holidays for schools and colleges in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpet districts on November 8 and 9.
  
  
• CM MK Stalin also appealed to people, who had travelled to their native place from Chennai to celebrate Deepavali, to postpone their travel to 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 for relief work have been shared.
  

#GCC has opened up Relief Centres!

Below is the list of functional shelters of GCC. People in #Chennai who are in need of shelters during the 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 a low pressure area is likely to form by November 9. It has forecast widespread rainfall for at least the next three days in the state.
  
  Rainfall is likely in northern regions like Chennai, Villupuram, Cuddalore and in delta areas of Mayiladuthurai and Nagapattinam districts besides neighbouring Puducherry and Kariakkal on Monday. Showers in such regions may be heavy and at isolated places, very heavy and there could be thunderstorm activity as well.
  
  
• As per the official bulletin, thunderstorm with heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Tuticorin districts on November 9. The following day, thunderstorm with scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy showers can occur in 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 mean sea level. Under its influence, a low pressure area is likely to form over southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood around November 9. It is likely to become more marked and move towards north Tamil Nadu coast during the subsequent 48 hrs,” the bulletin said.
  
  
• CM MK Stalin had held a meeting with 15 officers at Chennai Corporation building with 15 IAS officers who were appointed as monitoring officers for the day.
  
  
• With the onset of the North-East monsoon, CM Stalin informed that the rain received in the state was 334.64 mm 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 of normal rainfall, and 5,106 relief camps have been set up in the districts, he mentioned, as reported by PTI.
  
  
• The Greater Chennai Corporation set up 160 relief camps in the city, senior officials are overseeing the rain relief work.
  
  
• Four teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were dispatched to Madurai, Chengalpet, Tiruvallur to assist in rescue work while SDRF teams have been sent to Thanjavur and Cuddalore districts.

Sounding a preliminary flood alert earlier in the day, the state water resources authorities had earlier advised district collectors of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur to evacuate people living in low-lying areas and house them in safe locations.

(With Agency Inputs)