Worst rain in 100 years: Army called again for flood relief operations in Chennai

www.mangaloretoday.com

Chennai, Dec 1, 2015: Heavy rains today pounded several parts of Tamil Nadu with most areas of Chennai witnessing water logging severely disrupting airport, train and bus services as Chief Minister J Jayalalithaaa reviewed the situation and deputed ministers to inspect the affected regions. This is the worst rain that the city has seen in nearly a hundred years, the weather office, said. (See pictures).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chef Minister Jayalalithaa assuring all possible help.

Jayalalithaa said services of police, fire and rescue, national and state disaster relief forces and Coast Guard are ready to tackle the situation, weather office has cautioned of more showers in the next four days across Tamil Nadu with some regions likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall.

A huge crater appeared on the road near the Madhya Kailash signal, situated close to IIT Madras, forcing authorities to redirect traffic on the busy stretch.

The number of people killed in rain related incidents touched 188, according to the state government.

 

 

 

Several people including actor Siddharth and music composer A R Rahman took to Twitter to express their anguish over the situation in Chennai.


Here are the latest updates:

Next 10-12 hours crucial as strong winds make the situation worse.

1. Army called again for flood relief operations in Chennai Tamil Nadu.

2. According to the weather office, Chennai has received the entire three month-season’s rainfall in one month. Heavy rains during the second week of November had led to severe flooding in the city.

3. Educational institutions in Cuddalore, Tiruvallur and Villupuram districts and in the Union territory Puducherry have also been asked by the administration to remain close.

4. Some schools and other educational institutes in Chennai and other districts opened on Thursday last week after remaining closed for over two weeks due to continuous rain in the region.

5. Chennai and other parts of the state have been witnessing heavy rain since the past fortnight resulting in floods and severe water-logging. Normal life was hit hard in the capital city due to unprecedented rain.

6. People were forced to commute on boats in Chennai as waterlogging left the city inundated. Last week, rain water entered a government hospital forcing the staff to evacuate the patients out of their wards.

7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ordered an mmediate release of Rs 940 crore assistance for Tamil Nadu flood relief. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had demanded Rs 2000 crore as relief for areas affected by heavy rain and flood in the state.

8. PM Modi also agreed to the Tamil Nadu CM’s demand for a central team to be dispatched to the state to assess the damage and release funds for relief.

9. Speaking on his monthly radio programme ’Mann ki Baat’, PM Modi on Sunday said he was saddened by Tamil Nadu floods during festivities while drawing people’s attention towards global warming and climate change.

10. "It was saddening to witness devastation and deaths during the festive season, but I have faith in the strength of Tamil Nadu," he said in his 27-minute talk, adding that the tragedy in the state was due to the impact of global warming.

11. With the northeast monsoon leaving a trail of destruction in the state, the Tamil Nadu government has pegged the damage at Rs 8,481 crore.

12. According to the state government, 169 people have been killed since October 1 in various rain-related incidents across the state.

 

13. Around 10 flights delayed due to incessant rains in Chennai

14. A road caved in at Madhya Kailash signal in Chennai today due to heavy rains resulting in massive traffic jam at the major intersection. The road connects the IT hub with other parts of the capital city.

15. Chennai received upto 6.4 cm rain in 12 hours till 8 30 am. The weather department has predicted more heavy rain at some places in the region due to the trough of low pressure in the south west of Bay of Bengal.