Jayalalithaa urges Narendra Modi to declare Tamil Nadu floods national calamity

About 280 people have died across Tamil Nadu since torrential rains on Dec 1 submerged tracts of Chennai under up to eight feet (2.5 metres) of water, trapping people on rooftops with no communication. So was the case of Tamil Nadu cricket’s Ranji players, who helped in the relief work after an embarrassing defeat to Punjab in the Ranji trophy.

“We feel quite helpless”, said Malti Soman, standing in knee-deep water in Mambalam, a residential area in central Chennai.

The Chief Minister also extended a solatium of Rs four lakh to the next of kin of 29 persons who lost their lives in different rain-related incidents in the State.

Mr Yadav said the IMD was issuing forecasts related to rain battered Tamil Nadu at regular intervals and coordinating with various agencies to streamline the rehabilitation process.

The Finance Ministry today held a review meeting with public sector insurance companies including LIC and discussed ways for expeditious disposal of claims related to floods in Tamil Nadu.

In Chennai, Manali, Semmenchery, parts of Velachery, Keelkattalai, Chenagalpet remained water-logged while the stretch near Bharati Vidyalaya in Pallikarnai school was completely torn up. “The need of the hour is relief works”, he said.

For other families hit by the floods, cash assistance of Rs 5,000, ten kilo rice, a dhoti and a saree will be provided, she said.

Chennai airport was opened for passenger services on Sunday with three Air India flights to Port Blair, Hyderabad and Delhi and Jet Airways and IndiGo flights to Bangalore.

Presently Air India, IndiGo, Jet Airways and TrueJet have started domestic operations. The bank deployed 250 banking correspondents in Chennai, Thiruvalluvar and Kancheepuram in the flood-affected regions.

According to her, a total of 80,120 people belonging to the army, navy, air force and National Disaster Response Force, fire service, Coast Guard, police and others were involved in the rescue efforts.