Indian Army Called For Rescue in Chennai Rain

Schools downed shutters and flights and trains were cancelled as rains battered Tamil Nadu, especially in Chennai and the neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry, leading to flood-like situation. As a result of the rains, Chennai Airport Flooded, Poondi, Cholavaram, Puzhal and Chembarambakkam reservoirs that feed Chennai have touched 83.8 per cent of its capacity and out of the 14,098 lakes under PWD in Tamil Nadau 6,791 lakes are full. Expressing concern over the situation, T G Venkatesh Babu (AIADMK) urged the Centre to immediately release funds to carry out relief works in flood-affected areas of Tamil Nadu on a war-footing.

The Home Minister is also expected to make a statement in Parliament later in the day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured all possible support and cooperation to the State as he spoke to the Tamil Nadu CM.

The Army was called in on Tuesday evening in at least two suburban areas to carry out rescue operations as torrential rain since Monday night crippled several parts of Chennai, its suburbs and Puducherry. Residents reported power outage in various parts of the city.

The death toll in the rains that have lashed the city and other parts of state has gone up to 197, officials said. Around 4000 passengers are stranded at the Chennai airport as flight operations have been indefinitely suspended at the airport, where the runway is flooded.

Electricity supply snapped in many areas. Vellore has received 139 per cent above normal rains, Mr Rathore said.

It was raining opportunity for taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers who were charging sky high rates to ply short distances.

The Chennai Corporation has announced Emergency Contact Numbers for all the regional zones in the city. people can contact the following numbers in case of any emergency due to the floods. The airport is set to remain closed and about two dozen jets are stranded there, including some belonging to budget carrier SpiceJet Ltd.

“What has happened in Chennai over last 10 days is absolutely a very serious situation”. In Saidapet area along the river, 2,000 huts were submerged. “The Saidapet bridge over the Adyar river, which runs through the city, has also been closed”, he said, on condition of anonymity.

Private weather forecaster Skymet estimated that double the average December rainfall had soaked Chennai in the last 24 hours, leading to 200 people being critically injured, according to a senior home ministry official.

“In Villivakkam area the water level was up to my chest”.