DMK urges Centre to declare Chennai flood 'national disaster'

With incessant rain refusing to die down turning the situation from bad to worse, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi on Wednesday urged the Centre to send another high-level delegation to assess the situation, while demanding the flood to be declared as "national disaster".

"The situation is very bad in Tamil Nadu. Some of the areas are completely submerged. Therefore, more resources are needed to be sent there. The Government of India should declare it a national disaster," she said while speaking at the Upper House.

"It's commendable that the Centre has extended so much help to the flood-hit state, however, much more help is needed. We need more forces," she said.

"Agriculture, cattle and everything have been affected. Besides, hospitals have no power; students have not gone to schools for more than 15 days; books have been washed away," said Kanimozhi.

Even as Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured that the Centre was ready to provide all possible assistance to Tamil Nadu in view of unprecedented floods, Kanimozhi said it was necessary that the Centre must release more funds to help the people of Tamil Nadu, adding that the Centre and Tamil Nadu Government needed to work in tandem.

She said the government needs to be prepared for waterborne diseases after the water recedes.

Expressing his concern over the situation, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said the Centre was providing all possible assistance in relief and rescue operations to the Tamil Nadu Government.