Tamil Nadu rains: Army, IAF launch rescue operations, toll reaches 79
The Met office said the showers will continue for three more days, but will reduce in intensity.
The Indian Army and Air Force have been deployed for rescuing stranded citizens in Tamil Nadu's Kancheepuram district on Tuesday, where torrential rain has left many areas submerged. Defence officials said that surplus water from lakes and tanks at Mudichur inundated a large part of the suburban Tambaram locality, which led to the district administration requesting aid from the Army and Air Force. IAF helicopters reportedly carried out six operational flights and evacuated 22 persons on Monday night at Tambaram, and also air-dropped food packets and water. Citizens were also being evacuated from Kotturpuram and nearby areas. Schools will remain closed in Chennai and the surrounding districts on Wednesday.
On Monday, the National Disaster Response Force also deployed five teams of 200 men in Chennai, as 600 localities remained submerged in the city. By Monday evening, rescue teams had reportedly moved 10,000 people to safety from flooded areas, some of which were under 10 feet of water. Between 8 am on Sunday and 8 am on Monday, Chennai received the most rainfall in 24 hours in November than it has in a decade – almost twice as much as the previous record of 14 cm in 2005, reported The Times of India. As many as 79 deaths have been reported in various rain-related incidents, including electrocution and drowning, till Monday night.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has announced a Rs 500 crore package towards relief and rehabilitation. The Met office said the showers will continue for three more days, but will reduce in intensity as the depression responsible for the rainfall over the last 10 days is moving northward and away from the Tamil Nadu coast.