Schools reopen in Chennai after extended rain holidays

After an extended break imposed because of heavy rains in the state, all schools and colleges have reopened in the city.

Apart from 24 government schools that are temporarily being used as relief camps for affected people, all other schools have reopened.

Meanwhile, the heavy rains continued to batter parts of Tamil Nadu, as the death toll in the rain-related incidents mounted to over 176 yesterday.

A Rs 940-crore package has been released by the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) for the rehabilitation work.

A nine-member central team will today begin its on-the-spot assessment of the damages caused in the state due to recent rain and floods in the state.

The inter-ministerial team, headed by Union Home Ministry Joint Secretary TVSN Prasad, has been deputed on the directions of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi following a request by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

The team will conduct inspections for two days in Chennai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur and Cuddalore districts and submit their report to the Union Home Ministry.

In the wake of the heavy rain-induced floods that have left around the city reeling from extensive damage, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday sought the Centre's aid by seeking funds for immediate relief and restoration works.

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Keeping in view the urgency of the situation, Jayalalithaa has also requested the Centre to dispatch a team immediately to make its on-the-spot assessment of damages and to release central financial assistance without any delay.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ordered immediate release of Rs. 940 crores central assistance for rain-hit Chennai. He also agreed to the Tamil Nadu chief minister's demand for a central team to be dispatched to the state to assess the damage and release funds for relief.