Army, Air Force, Navy deployed in flood hit Chennai

The army, air force and navy were pressed into service on Wednesday for helping residents here, battling floods caused by the heaviest rains in the last 100 years in Tamil Nadu.

Four army columns have been deployed in the affected areas and additional columns have been placed on stand by, an official spokesperson said. The navy has sent three relief teams, consisting of around 90 sailors and officers.

A navy spokesperson said additional boats were being deployed. Arrangements have been made to shelter around 100 people at (E) shelter. Medical teams have been kept ready.

Naval ship INS Airavat has proceeded to Chennai from Visakhapatnam with relief material. The navy is also assessing the flood hit areas through Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

The Indian Air Force meanwhile deployed C17 aircraft to carry three teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to Tirupati. It will be moving 12 teams.

Six Chetak helicopters and two Mi 17 helicopters were ready and one Chetak and one Cheetah helicopter were sent to conduct recces of the affected areas.

The unprecedented torrential rains, recorded as the heaviest in 100 years, have battered Tamil Nadu's northern districts such as Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram and Cuddalore, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said while speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

Jayalalithaa told Modi that the state machinery was geared up to tackle the challenges.

The state has deployed Disaster Response Force, fire and rescue service personnel and coastal security group in the affected places.

The rains stopped on Wednesday morning, offering some respite to the people. The weather office, however, on Wednesday forecast heavy rains in the next three days.

During the last spell of rains, around 180 people lost their lives in four districts of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Cuddalore and Thiruvallur.