hennai floods: NDRF intensifies rescue ops as rains stop, over 9,000 rescued

A gasping Tamil Nadu breathed air momentarily with the rains showing signs of stopping and the water level receding in many parts of the state, speeding up the rescue operations especially in the severely waterlogged areas and increasing communication levels.

"The rains have stopped for now and its intensity has reduced. Out team will be heading out aggressively to the areas where people are stranded, especially where waterlogging is causing major trouble. We have broken up our teams into sector and have dispersed them in south Chennai where the damage is the most," DG NDRF OP Singh told ANI.

Going into details about the rescue operations planned, Singh said around 20 more teams will be deployed, totalling the teams to 50 in the flooded state as the operations intensify. Five teams that left from Punjab have reached today and five more team from Guwahati and Patna will be reaching today.

"We have rescued more than 9,000 people so far. Our biggest priority is to recue people and ensure them to safety. Our coordination is with the State Government and we have spoken to the Home Secretary and the relief commissioners as well," Singh said.

In a positive note he added that power has been successfully restored to the areas where there is no waterlogging and that the overall levels of communication have improved massively.

Meanwhile, support has been pouring in across the country to Chennai as relief funds, supplies and amenities are making their way to the rain-hit state.

"Chennai is fighting back and we are with you. My thoughts are with people who have lost their dear ones. Praying that each of you will overcome these challenging times and bounce back to normalcy #ChennaiFloods," former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar tweeted today.

Prime Minister Modi earlier took stock of the situation arising out of incessant rains in coastal parts of Tamil Nadu over the last few weeks. He also conducted an aerial survey of the flood affected areas and announced a relief package of Rs. 1000 crores.