Already battered by the worst rains in a century, Chennai

“Its intensity, however, will decrease in the next 48 hours and further by 72 hours but it is likely to continue for five-seven days”, he said.

“The rain is unrelenting and more rains have been predicted in another few more days”.

Recently back from the United Nations climate change conference in Paris, Mr Modi had earlier blamed its affects for the unseasonal rains and floods in the southern state.

Baradan Dharumaiyan captured footage of cascading water lapping at peoples’ knees in Kotturpuram, Tamil Nadu state.

The Dr. A. Ramachandran’s Diabetes Hospital was running out of oxygen for patients and diesel for power generators, he said by phone.

India’s fourth-largest city is a major auto manufacturing and IT outsourcing hub for companies including Ford Motor, BMW AG, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.

Authorities said the airport would remain shut until at least Thursday, hampering efforts to bring in relief supplies. It said an already hard pressed administration and Indian Army shouldn’t be distracted from the task at hand of rescuing stranded people. “Where do we go?” traveller Vinit Jain told Reuters Television.

No deaths were reported, and the extent of damage would only become clear when the floodwaters recede, another NDMA official said.

Local media said schools in the state capital had been closed and exams postponed.

Even, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and assured her to provide all kinds of possible support from the Centre, for the flood affected victims.

According to Junior Home Minister Kiren Rijiju, this year’s winter monsoon rains in Tamil Nadu are the worst they have been in decades, perhaps a century. Army and naval rescue teams have joined several teams of National Disaster Response Force to help evacuate residents stranded in low-lying areas.

Almost 200 people have lost their lives in rain related incidents, and the Meteorological department says that the worst is not yet over. About 470 pumps, 82 earth movers, 75 pumps to suck out water, 49 fire tenders and boats were involved in flood relief operations on Wednesday.

“The authorities would like to help however there are not any boats. We are trying not to panic”, Ramana Goda, one of the many people who took shelter in a local police station, told Reuters.