CM orders ministers, officials to provide amenities

Stating that unprecedented rain between November 8 and 16 had greatly affected Chennai, Kanchipuram, Cuddalore and Tiruvallur districts, she said IAS officials had been deputed to the affected districts to endure speedy rescue and relief work.

The torrential rain resulted in all water bodies being quickly filled up resulting in surplus wa¬ter being released to safeguard the reservoirs. While 400 mcft was released from Sholavaram, 5000 mcft was released from Chembarambakkam, 25, 000 mcft from Poondi and another 5,800 mcft from Red hills, the statement said. 

The state and central national disaster relief teams in coordination with the police, coast guard, fire and rescue services and the three wings of the armed forces enabled the rescue of many affected people, it added.

As on date, a total of 6,358 persons accommodated in 50 relief camps in Cuddalore district had been given 14.97n lakh food packets, it said. Another 3.53 lakhs food packets were distributed to 38, 495 victims housed in 146 relief camps in Tiruvallur district. In Chennai, currently the 97 relief camps house a total of 62, 267 flood affected people who have been given 17.28 lakhs food packets. The 167 relief camps in Kanchipuram district house 57, 516 flood affected victims who were served with 6.17 lakhs food packets, the statement said.

While ministers and IAS officials have been deputed to oversee relief work in the affected dis¬tricts, the 15 divisions in Chennai corporation area have been given an IAS official to oversee this work.

In the city, 470 pumps, 75 high power pumps and 82 JCB excavators have been pressed into service for relief work. Special teams have been formed to remove fallen trees and thereby ensure smooth traffic flow, it added. Power supply stopped in flood areas would be restored in stages once stagnant water was cleared, she added.

Though 24 NDRF teams are involved in relief work using boats in Chennai and Kanchipuram district, another 15 teams are expected following a request from the state government, she said.

A total of 4 helicopters, two each from the coast guard and the IAF are being used to drop food and essential supplies in flood affected areas. Helping the local police were 150 trained personnel from the state disaster relief management team and 60 coast guard servicemen in 3 teams.

She said that she had ordered supply of mats and blankets to people settled in relief camps, while inmates would also be supplied with Aavin milk power. People marooned on top of buildings would be provided with food and water, the statement concluded.