More rains coming as south India grapples with

The heaviest rainfall in more than 100 years has devastated swathes of TamilNadu, Nearly 300 people have died due to the floods, which have affected over 1.8 million people and have caused damages and losses in excess of ₹20000 crore. The government issued a flood alert to people living on the banks of river Adyar in Chennai, even as several lakes and tanks overflowed in the city and the neighbouring districts of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur. Modi had earlier spoken to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to promise all possible support.

“Chennai is stinking and it is shocking to see how it has collapsed in the last 48 hours”, said Anant Raghav, 56, a professor at the University of Madras.

Meteorological Department in the state has predicted heavy rains in the coming four days.

Teams of NDRF and army personnel and police and fire service men swung into action to rescue people from their flood homes in Kotturpuram, Nandanam, Jafferkhanpet, Saidapet and the suburbans areas of Velacheri, Madipakkam, Tambaram and Mudichur localities where waters had reached upto first floor. The navy had also deployed boats and divers.

“The government of India stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Tamil Nadu in this hour of need”. “In some places, the water level is more”. The rains have been caused by a depression in the Bay of Bengal, the agency said. “This is over and above the Rs 940 crore which was released earlier”, said PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday took stock of the flood situation in Tamil Nadu and discussed it with his cabinet colleagues, including the ministers of Home, Finance and Defence.

The incessant rains in Chennai and the coastal parts of Tamil Nadu over the last few weeks has wreaked havoc and disrupted normal in the state.

“It would not be an exaggeration to say that Chennai has become an island as it has been cut off from all national and state highways”, he said, responding to a discussion on the flood situation in Tamil Nadu, Pudducherry and Andhra Pradesh. Although the showers subsided on Thursday morning, heavy rains have been forecast for the next two-three days.

Authorities said the airport would remain shut until at least tomorrow, hampering efforts to bring in relief supplies.

After auto manufacturers and IT outsourcing firms suspended operations on Wednesday, state-run Chennai Petroleum shut down its 210,000 barrels per day oil refinery due to the heavy flooding.

Chennai: As Tamil Nadu battles its worst rain crisis in recent years that has left much of its capital Chennai and other parts submerged, leaving an unprecedented trail of destruction and death, relief is also being organised at a massive scale.