Chennai rains: NDRF deploys additional teams to help rescue operation

In the wake of incessant rainfall in Chennai, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed additional teams to help the rescue operation there.

"The good thing is that there is no rain since the last 12-13 hours. The water level is decreasing in many areas. Seven more teams have reached there. We will evacuate more people and move them to safer places. Now we have more than 100 boats in action," said NDRF DG O.P Singh.

Singh said that the NDRF will concentrate on areas of south Chennai and also areas where the water level was very high till yesterday.

"Now we have more than 1000 jawans in action and 29 teams are present there. The state government can only tell about the casualties. We have faced problem because airport is closed. But we have taken the route to Chennai through nearby naval base and our teams have gone to Chennai from there," he added.

More than 500 people had so far been evacuated in flood-hit Tamil Nadu by several NDRF teams.

Earlier, the Indian Air Force (IAF) lifted three NDRF teams from the Palam airport for flood-hit Tamil Nadu on Wednesday evening with relief materials.

A C-113 aircraft took off the NDRF teams from Palam, while a C-17 has already gone to Tamil Nadu from Chandigarh with three NDRF teams.

Heavy rains and water overflowing above the danger level at Railway Bridges in Chennai-Gudur section has impacted the functioning of trains following which the South Central Railway (SCR) has cancelled 12 trains and assured full refunds of fare for the same.

Chennai Airport will remain closed till Friday. From today, Chennai bound flights will be landing at INS Rajali Airbase of Indian Navy at Arakonam which is about 60 kilometers from Chennai.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa will conduct an aerial survey of flood affected areas of Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallu today.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh will also make a statement in the Parliament on the current flood situation in Chennai.