No relief for Chennai as heavy rains return

Thousands of people are leaving Chennai amid fears of more rains and floods

After a break of nearly 24 hours, heavy rains are back in Chennai, even as thousands of people, left with little or no food, water and medicines, await their evacuation from their flooded houses.

According to reports, thousands of people, including those working in IT companies, are leaving Chennai amid fears of more rains and floods. Food, water, milk and other essential commodities brought as part of relief operations are in shortage in almost all parts of the city. Some residents of Chennai also complained that essential products are being sold at exorbitant prices in various stories.

Mobile phone and internet services in the city are yet to be restored properly and people are banking only on BSNL landlines to connect with others.

Although hundreds of volunteers from various NGOs have joined the rescue operations, many people are still trapped in educational institutions, cinema theatres, temples, community centres and other places because of the scarcity of manpower, equipment and boats.

Incidentally, two more navy ships have arrived at Chennai port from Visakhapatnam to aid the relief operations.