Army, Air Force Help In Rescue As Parts Of Chennai Remain Marooned

Mangalore Today News Network

Chennai, Nov 17, 2015:  The Army and the Air Force have been called in to help rescue nearly 2000 people who have been stranded in parts of Chennai and Kancheepuram that are still inundated despite some let up in rain. 22 people, including 12 infants, were air-lifted yesterday. More choppers and boats will be pressed into service today.

   
There is no rain in Chennai as of now but parts of the city are still water-logged. Among the worst-hit areas is Tambaram, where many streets are water-logged.
   
12 infants and 10 adults, including six women, were airlifted yesterday from the Muduchuri Ashok Nagar area of Tambaram, which is completely submerged. All evacuees were winched up during multiple sorties, an IAF official said.
   
Two Cheetahs choppers were used in rescue operation and two Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) and two Mi-17 V5s are on standby.
   
Boats are also being used in many flooded areas to rescue stranded people. National Disaster Response Force teams have also been asked to help.
   
100 litres of water and 150 food packets prepared by the IAF were also air dropped in the area.
   
People are also being evacuated from Kotturpuram, where release of water from the Sembarambakkam reservoir may cause sudden flooding.
   
Chennai has received a maximum of 4cm rain since last night. The Met department has predicted the city would receive mild showers today. A depression over the Bay of Bengal that led to heavy downpour here over the last three days has moved Kavali in Andhra Pradesh. As a result, north coastal areas of the state are likely to witness moderate rain today.
   
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has announced Rs. 500 crore for relief and rehabilitation. Over 5,000 people have been evacuated from low lying areas in Chennai already, the government has said. It has also distributed 90,000 food packets.
   
Schools and colleges in Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram were ordered to remain closed till today as the Met department had earlier predicted very heavy rain. Anna University has postponed exams scheduled to take place from November 16-18.
   
71 people have died in rain-related incidents in Tamil Nadu since November 9, when a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal crossed near the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast, resulting in heavy rain and consequent flood in many parts of the state. Cuddalore district, 180 kms from Chennai, was the worst hit.

 

Courtesy: NDTV