Rainfall abates in Tamil Nadu

Defence forces join rescue efforts; commercial establishments start work, schools & colleges stay shut

The toll in rain-related incidents across Tamil Nadu on Tuesday touched 79 with eight more deaths reported from three districts. The meteorological department said the low pressure area was likely to dissipate in a day or two, with likelihood of only scattered rain.

The Army, Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard have been pushed into relief work. Since Tuesday evening, 882 have been rescued from stranded areas. Around 320 were given relief aid, including food and water, and 150 people were given medical aid. Till 4 pm, 350 food packets and water bottles were distributed.

Schools and colleges remained closed and would be closed on Wednesday also. Commercial establishments and offices resumed work.

The state has been largely free of rain since Monday evening. The eight deaths in Villupuram, Vellore and Kanchipuram districts were due to electrocution, wall collapse and drowning.

“There is no depression as of now. The probability of the present system (low pressure area) turning into a depression is low. The low pressure area is likely to dissipate in a day or two,” Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Regional Meteorological Centre, S R Ramanan told PTI.

The well-marked low-pressure area now lies over west central and adjoining south west bay off south coastal Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu coast, he said. As a result, scattered, mild showers might be expected in Tamil Nadu, including Chennai and south coastal Andhra Pradesh regions like Nellore would get more rains, he said.

In Kancheepuram district, the Army and Air Force were deployed to rescue stranded citizens as torrential rains left residents marooned, as rain water inundated a large part of suburban Tambaram locality here. The Navy and Coast Guard have also joined rescue operations.

Coast Guard choppers airdropped 500 kg of bread, biscuits and drinking water in Tambaram in two sorties, a release said and added their helicopters have been kept on standby to augment state government’s relief efforts.

The Navy said it had already sent in a well equipped team, comprising of divers, swimmers, inflatable crafts on Monday which had been positioned at Tambaram and that more boats and personnel have been sent to Tambaram, Kotturpuram and Manali.

A naval helicopter from INS Rajali at neighbouring Arakkonam was also on standby, the navy said, adding it was also ready with its “assets” here and at Visakhapatnam to assist the state government as and  when required.

The chief minister has announced setting up of 50 more farm fresh outlets on a temporary basis in Chennai to tackle rising prices of vegetables due to reduced arrivals. Already, 42 state-run farm fresh outlets are selling veggies here. The new outlets would sell veggies like onions, potato and tomato, which are largely used by the people, an official release said.

Meanwhile, the Southern Railway (SR) on Tuesday announced cancellation of 15 trains bound for various destinations due to the waterlogging on tracks.

Fifteen trains scheduled to leave from Chennai and Puducherry and passing through Chennai Central on Tuesday and Wednesday have been cancelled, SR said in release.

In Chennai, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced Rs 4 lakh relief to the next of kin of the eight killed while opposition DMK pledged Rs 1 crore for relief and demanded all-party panels to monitor it.

“The announcement of Rs 500 crore towards relief and rehabilitation is very less considering the scale of damages,” DMK chief Karunanidhi said. On Monday Jayalalithaa had announced allocation of Rs 500 crore towards relief and rehabilitation.