Challenges for Chennai flooded for days now: Latest developments

Mangalore Today News Network

Chennai, Dec 05:  As water recedes and electricity returns to parts of Chennai, the biggest challenge for authorities now is the mammoth task of cleaning up and preventing an outbreak of disease

in parts of the Tamil Nadu capital which have been under as much as 18 feet of water for days.

 

Here the latest developments:

Municipal workers have launched a huge cleaning operation all over Chennai, removing the slush

off streets and pouring bleaching powder in an effort to sanitise areas which have been under

water after days of torrential rain.

Supplying drinking water is a major challenge as authorities fear groundwater facilities may

be contaminated in several areas. Water tankers have been pressed to bring drinking water to

places. There is also a lack of milk, food supplies and electricity in many parts.

Commercial flights at the Chennai airport will start from Sunday morning, Press Trust of India

reported. The airport has opened for limited flights to help bring relief supplies.

The Met department has predicted light to moderate rainfall till Sunday. Intermittent rain

continued in parts of Chennai on Saturday.

While ministers claimed 85 per cent of power supplies has been restored, telephones, bus and

train are also in partial operation, residents in several parts have expressed anger over the

government’s response.

Water levels in Adyar and Cooum Rivers are down. Areas such as Kotturpuram, Mudichur,

Pallikaranai, Velachery, Munipakkam, Thoraipakkam, Tambaram and Sholinganallur are still

waterlogged. Power supply is still out in severely waterlogged areas.

Connectivity still remains a huge challenge with power outages and mobile signals weak in most

areas. Long queues are being reported outside petrol pumps and ATMs.

More than 16,000 people have been evacuated by the National Disaster Response Force. Thousands

more have been rescued by the Army and state disaster response teams.

Torrential rains have left at least 245 people dead since October 1. At least 18 hospital

patients died after rainwaters knocked out generators and switched off ventilators, officials

said.

Schools, colleges and offices in Chennai have been closed and exams have been postponed.

Chennai Airport Terminal Manager: 044-22563100 & 08056220066

Emergency Toll Free Number: 1910, State Emergency: 1070, District Emergency: 1077,
Electricity:1912, Fire & Rescue: 101, Ambulance: 108, Tree fall, waterlogging - 1913, Sewage

overflow - 45674567, 22200335

Helpline Numbers: Tiruvottiyur : 09445190001, Manali: 09445190002; Madhavaram: 9445190003,
Ambattur: 9445190007; Tondiarpet: 9445190004, Royapuram: 9445190005; Annanagar: 9445190008,
Teynampet: 9445190009, Alandur: 9445190012, Adyar: 9445190013,Perungudi: 9445190014

Flood Control Room: 28593990, 044-28410577,9445869843/47