PM Modi to take stock of devastating floods in Chennai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Chennai on Thursday afternoon to take an aerial survey of the devastating floods in the state.

"Leaving for Chennai to take stock of the situation arising due to the devastating floods," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi earlier today chaired a crisis meet to take stock of the situation in Tamil Nadu and review relief efforts. The meeting was attended by several top officials of the government including Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General L.S. Rathore and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General O. P. Singh.

The NDRF has deployed additional teams to speed up the rescue operations in Tamil Nadu.

In the flood hit northern part of Tamil Nadu, the situation has improved slightly with the scale of rain coming down since yesterday. Power supply has been restored in most parts of Chennai. Water has started receding from many areas of the city. However, the suburban west Tambaram areas are still submerged under water.

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

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

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.