Here’s What PM Modi Has Announced For The Chennai Floods

The flooding has forced more than 200,000 people to abandon their homes.

Modi flew into Chennai and announced Rs.1,000 crore – Jayalalithaa sought Rs.5,000 crore – in immediate relief after an aerial survey of some of the worst hit areas.

As Indian authorities intensify a massive search and rescue operation in flood-battered Chennai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, more than 90 Malaysians are still stranded in their hotel rooms and homes.

Some areas are still badly affected and remain cut off. Rescue teams are now focussing on these neighbourhoods while trying to get food and medicines to thousands of people who have been affected. “Important flood retention structures such as Virugambakkam, Padi and Villivakkam tanks are officially abandoned”.

Rescue operation is in full swing in flood-hit Chennai as several parts of the city has come to a standstill after flood situation aggravated and all modes of transport were stalled.

Firstpost News Editors Devparna Acharya and Rohini Chatterji analyse why Chennai was inundated.

French foreign minister Laurent Fabius on Thursday said unprecedented magnitude of the Chennai flooding confirms that time is running out and “concrete and urgent” action needs to be taken against climate disruption.

The Prime Minister arrived in Tamil Nadu in the late afternoon to take stock of the situation arising out of the floods in the state.

Met office forecast more rains in the next three days in Tamil Nadu and neighboring states of Kerala and Andhra. The Adyar and Cooum rivers are swollen and 35 lakes are reportedly flowing at risky levels.

A senior federal official said more than 1,000 people had been critically injured and were rushed to government hospitals.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to Chennai to see the devastation and the ongoing rescue efforts, which have been hindered by further ensuing rain.

In heavily flooded areas like Mudichur and Tambaram, people are looking up to the skies and praying for the rains to stop – and for relief materials. A naval air base at Arakkonam, 70km (43 miles) from Chennai, was meant to be used as an alternative airport for relief operations instead.

As per Skymet Meteorology Division in India, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to continue over Chennai for another 48 hours. “But today, we have no drinking water, no fresh food and no control over our lives”, Murthy said.