Chennai flood: CPI asks Centre to extend 'adequate' financial support

The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Wednesday urged the Centre to extend adequate financial support to the rain-hit Tamil Nadu, and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the rain-hit Chennai and the affected districts.

"Earlier in 2005, we had such heavy rains all over the state and many parts were affected at that point of time. Now this is after 10 years that we have got such heavy rains. Unimaginable damage to the houses, infrastructure and roads has been there. Hundreds of people have already died because of rains and flood," CPI leader D. Raja told ANI.

"On behalf of the Left parties, we met the Prime Minister and upraised the damage caused by rains in the state and we have also told him that the financial support announced by the Centre is not adequate. Centre should extend adequate financial support to the state," he added.

He also said that it would be proper if the Prime Minister or the Home Minister pays a visit to Tamil Nadu and make an aerial survey of Chennai and the nearby districts.

In the wake of the flood alert that has been issued in parts of Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Modi had earlier spoken to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and assured full support from the government to the state.

Prime Minister Modi had earlier instructed the immediate release of financial assistance of nearly Rs. 940 crore to deal with the flood situation in rain- battered Tamil Nadu, hours after Jayalalithaa wrote to him for funds to sustain relief work.

Tamil Nadu has been affected by the worst ever flood, causing a huge loss to life and property in the entire state, especially in the capital.

Many parts of the city and the suburbs have been flooded from the incessant rains that have hit Chennai in the past 24 hours.

The flight operations at the Chennai Airport have been closed for the whole day because of the flooded water on the runway.

Twelve trains leaving Chennai Egmore were already cancelled yesterday due to water overflowing on railway tracks between Villupuram - Tambaram section.

The Chennai Corporation had yesterday announced emergency contact numbers for all the regional zones in the city for the people to contact in case of any emergency due to the floods.