Chennai rain: Navy deploys choppers, remotely-piloted aircraft

Financial loss due to rainfall in Chennai and several parts of Tamil Nadu may have exceeded Rs 15,000 crore

Divulging details of measures being taken by the Indian Navy to rescue the people stranded in flood-hit Chennai, Naval Officer in-charge of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu Alok Bhatnagar said the Indian Navy on Wednesday deployed helicopters and remotely-piloted aircraft that would be functional as the weather permitted.

"We have deployed helicopters and remotely-piloted aircraft today which will be functional as the weather permits," said Bhatnagar.

"Besides, the Indian Navy has two air bases in Tamil Nadu - INS Rajali and INS Parundu - which are on high alert," he added.

As incessant rains continue to lash Chennai, the Indian Navy has deployed five teams.

"The first team was deployed in Gandhi Nagar area on Tuesday where they rescued stranded people. Besides, we have sent one team comprising four boats and 16 sailors to Tambaram. One team has been sent to the Defence Colony area to follow requests coming on a navy helpline number," he said.

"Our sailors, food packets and boats have been deployed in Tambaram area. Additional boats are being deployed as required in the region," he said.

Apart from these, said Bhatnagar, INS Chetlat had received a distress call from Pak bay region and rescued four fishermen stranded on a fishing boat and took them to Rameswaram.