 "A view of a flooded area near Chennai following heavy rains")
"The recent natural calamity affecting lakhs of people in Tamil Nadu is extremely unfortunate. CII would like to express its heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have lost their members and loved ones in this calamity," said Seshasayee.
CII and member companies have reached out to an estimated 70,000 families in Chennai and suburbs with relief materials in the last six days.
CII has despatched several truck loads of relief materials such as biscuits and fruit juices, water bottles, rice and sugar, candles, mats, bet sheets, blankets, torch lights, sanitary napkins, etc, to most affected areas in and around Chennai, received from members companies from Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Cochin and Trivandrum.
CII has also mobilised and provided high power water evacuation pumps at both Chennai and Cuddalore.
Seshasayee said a partnership has been formed amongst CII, Infosys Foundation, Sri Ramakrishna Mission and Rotary International to carry out relief work in three phases in the identified 8 zones: Madipakkam, Velachery, Medavakkam, Nanganallur, Madhavaram, Manali, Ennore, Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, OMR, Semmenchery, Mudichur, Tambaram, Urapakkam, Perungalathur, Guduvanchery, Chenglepet, Maraimalainagar and Cuddalore.
In the first phase, distribution of most necessary items like food items, medicines, dry rations, utility items, toiletries, packaged drinking water etc have been despatched to the flood victims in the affected areas.
Teams from the partner organisations are visiting various locations in the city and assessing the needs on the ground to understand the requirements for immediate relief. Separate teams are being positioned in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore to procure items based on the assessment by the Chennai team, he added.
In the second phase, the urgent necessity being the medical requirements for the affected areas to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, CII is organising medical camps in the affected areas and make available the essential medicines that are immediately required. Over 10 ambulances and mobile medical units are currently operational in the affected areas.
The third phase would comprise rehabilitation work and providing livelihood opportunities and CII would work with Government of Tamil Nadu in creating detailed plans for the same once the Government's on-ground assessment of the damage is completed.
