Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday went around Chennai to inspect the status of flooding and relief work being carried out by the government.
Pointing out that Chennai experienced 36 cm in three days (October 31-November 2), Mr. Palaniswami, who visited Old Washermenpet, Tondiarpet and Mudichur, said the authorities had been taking “swift action” in baling out water from problem spots. The government was also taking action against those who had encroached on water bodies.
He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and Ministers, including D. Jayakumar and S P Velumani.
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In the aftermath of Thursday’s torrential rain, as many as 59 residents from localities such as Sun City and Kumaran Nagar in Red Hills were rescued by the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) personnel and taken to safety in rubber boats. “It is a low-lying area and water from a nearby lake entered the locality due to the heavy rain,” said P. Loganathan, a TNFRS officer.
Chennai Corporation officials, including Commissioner D. Karthikeyan, supervised relief operations. Pumps were deployed at all subways to bale out water. The Corporation accommodated those who had to leave their houses at shelters, and provided them food and water.
Students staying at the SRS Sarvodaya Girls Hostel, Chetpet, were forced to contend with waist-deep water after rainwater from most of the surrounding areas began to flow into the premises. While books and other property of the students were damaged, the water also entered the kitchen counters and the gas cabinet, making it impossible for any food to be cooked. “Most of the students have been shifted to Thakkar Bapa Vidyalaya in T. Nagar, “ said R.Shanti, the warden of the hostel.
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Large portions of the Marina were submerged and many vendors had to shift. A few cracks were seen on the road near the Chennai Metro Rail site near LIC station.
(With inputs from Vivek Narayanan, S. Poorvaja and Krishna Sumanth)