Torrential rains batter Chennai; airport shut, trains diverted(Photo: IANS)
Chennai turned a virtual island and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu were marooned after unprecedented rains in 100 years pounded the city, its suburbs and neighbouring districts destroying road and rail links, shutting the airport and rendering thousands homeless.
Live Updates:
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces Rs 1000cr for relief and rescue operation for Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister said that it is over and above Rs 940 crore which was released earlier.
– The Government of India stands shoulder to shoulder with the people of Tamil Nadu in this hour of need: PM Modi
– I have seen the damage and misery caused by the extremely heavy rainfall: PM Narendra Modi in Tamil Nadu
– Air India will operate a special flight to the Arrakonam Naval Air Station from Hyderabad to ferry the stranded passengers, who have been airlifted from Chennai airport by the IAF choppers.
ALSO READ: Chennai Floods: Air India To Operate Special Flight From Hyderabad
– Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Chennai and its suburbs. The Chief Minister, who was in a chopper, witnessed first hand the damage caused by the monsoon fury, officials said. Later she took stock of the issue with the senior officials.
An aerial view of submerged Chennai airport taken from the IAF helicopter, following heavy rains in the region pic.twitter.com/tKWS4O6gv6
— MIB India (@MIB_India) December 3, 2015
– PM Modi is visiting Chennai to take stock of the situation. “Leaving for Chennai to take stock of the situation arising due to the devastating floods.” The Prime Minister tweeted.
ALSO READ: PM Modi Reaches Chennai To Take Stock Of Flood Situation
– This rainfall has broken the record of past 100 years. The death toll so far is 269: Rajnath Singh in LS
– IAF has airlifted 200 stranded people from Chennai. These people are being brought to Air base in Begumpet(Telangana).
– Indian Air Force has pressed into service three aircraft to evacuate hundreds of passengers stranded at the Chennai airport where operations were suspended due to heavy rains and waterlogging on the runway.
– IAF sources said that the Force has received clearance from the authorities to ferry civilian passengers from Chennai to Delhi and the operations would begin post-noon on Wednesday.
-Two C-17 from ‘INS Rajali’ airbase in Arakkonam, about 60 km west of Chennai, and one C-130J aircraft at Tambaram airbase, have been stationed for reconnaissance missions, they said.
– Passengers will be airlifted from the Chennai airport to Tambaram and Arakkonam airbase of the air force.
– There has been no rain in Chennai since last night. – The people stranded in Chennai to be taken to Hyderabad via special flight.
– Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to make aerial survey of flood-hit Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts.
Chennai Flood Situation “Very Alarming”: Rajnath
Terming the situation in flood-hit Chennai as “very alarming”, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in the Lok Sabha that the Centre will extend all possible assistance to the state governments in dealing with natural calamities.
“It would not be an exaggeration to say that Chennai has become an island as it has been cut off from all national and state highways,” he said, responding to a discussion on the
flood situation in Tamil Nadu, Pudducherry and Andhra Pradesh.
Naval Air Station Near Chennai To Become Temporary Airport
– Air India carried out a test landing at Arakkonam Naval Base off the Chennai airport, an official statement said. AI A320 Aircraft VT-EXA took off from Hyderabad and landed at MAA Arakkonam NAVAL Base at 2037 IST on Wednesday. The flight made a safe and successful landing, it said.
– With the Chennai airport closed till December 6 following heavy rains and flood, the nearby naval air station at Arakonnam is likely to be turned into a makeshift airport for commercial flights from Thursday.
– SriLankan Airlines said it has cancelled four of its Chennai-bound flights in view of the non-stop torrential rains which have forced the South Indian city to close its International airport.
– The Airport Authority of India announced that Chennai airport will remain shut till December 6 in the wake of the battering downpour and predictions of more rains in the next 72 hours.
– All modes of transport–air, road and rail services– remained suspended due to the unprecedented deluge, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at the airport and various rail terminals. Suburban rail services also remained suspended.
More Rains To Come
– The weatherman has forecast rainfall over the next three days with the next 48 being very critical under the influence of a trough of low pressure and upper air circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal and Sri Lankan coast. Thereafter, the state will see an anti-cyclone activity which will be associated with “heavy rains” at some places.
– “The phenomenon will continue for the next seven days, but the next 48 hours are very crucial. Neighbouring states will also see rainfall activity,” L S Rathore, Director General of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) told reporters in Delhi.
Chennai Turns Into An Island
– Chennai, which received 49 cm of rain and Chembarambakkam, where the reservoir surplussed about 25,000 cusecs of water into Adyar river, received 47 cm of rains in the last 24 hours that flooded the city and the suburbs, uprooting people from their homes.
– Flood waters reached upto the second floor of the Housing Board colonies on the banks of Adyar river as people reached roof-tops looking for rescue and relief in several parts of the city and suburbs. The death toll in the rains that have lashed the city and other parts of state has gone up to 197, officials said.
– PM Narendra Modi, who spoke to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa last night and promised all assistance, held discussions with his cabinet colleagues Rajnath Singh (Home), Arun Jaitley (Finance) and M Venkaiah Naidu (Parliamentary Affairs) in the morning to take stock of the situation.
– The National Crisis Management Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha reviewed the situation and assured the state of all support from the centre.
Private Companies Advised To Declare Holiday
– Tamil Nadu government has issued an advisory to private undertakings to declare holiday for their employees on December 3 and 4.
– In its advisory, the Labour Department said that “in view of the adverse weather condition, the government issues an advisory to private undertakings to permit their staff to avail holiday permission or work from home as is done in many IT and private companies on December 3 and 4, 2015.” The advisory for holiday was being issued to districts of Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur.
Financial Losses Over Rs 15,000 Crore
– Life in the Tamil Nadu capital was crippled on Wednesday as fresh downpour worsened an already disastrous flood situation, posing danger to thousands of people in low-lying areas. The financial losses from the torrential rains and floods in Tamil Nadu may exceed Rs.15,000 crore, industry lobby body Assocham said on Wednesday.
– “The financial loss due to record-breaking rainfall in Chennai and several parts of Tamil Nadu may even exceed Rs.15,000 crore mark as the city of Chennai has come to a virtual standstill and is in the grip of fear and panic,” the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) said in a statement.
– Assocham secretary general D.S. Rawat said the “unprecedented torrential downpour in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu has led to total chaos”.
BSNL, Airtel Offer Help
Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that in case of non payment of BSNL bill, there shall be no disconnection of the line. There will be no charges on BSNL bills for one week in Tamil Nadu starting Wednesday. Paytm has also offered help to the stranded persons
– Chennai Floods: Airtel offers free calls, talktime credit, data to help people
#ChennaiRains emergency helpline numbers https://t.co/hJmfxmcvrB pic.twitter.com/mnOldRlNuY
— News World India (@NewsWorldIN) December 1, 2015
Chennai Declared Disaster Zone
– Army Helpline no: 9840295100
– Two columns of army’s Garrison Infantry Battalion have been pressed into service in Tambaram and Oorapakkam after the Tamil Nadu government sought military assistance. The Navy is also on stand-by.
– Navy personnel were deployed in Saidapet area of Chennai to rescue people marooned in low-lying areas. Gemini boats, divers, swimmers along with Associated Rescue Equipment and de-watering pumps are also available at 5 minutes notice.
– Helicopters are at standby for rescue and relief operations. UAVs available for aerial reconnaissance.
– The National Disaster Relief Force has deployed its Urban Search And Rescue team for rescue and evacuation operation. The NDRF control room in Delhi is closely monitoring the situation and keeping close coordination with agencies.
– “More army personnel are coming to Chennai from Bengaluru,” a Defence Public Relations official said adding “they have already left for Chennai.”
– National Disaster Rescue Force has already despatched ten teams of which four are already in Chennai and the rest will be flying in Wednesday.
– “At the same time, we are also requisitioning teams from Bengaluru and Andhra Pradesh,” NDRF chief O P Singh said. Rescue work will begin and NDRF would deploy more teams if required. Teams carrying boats will also be sent to Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts.
– As the death toll in rain-related incidents touched 188, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa reviewed the situation and deputed ministers to inspect the affected regions.
She also ordered a solatium of Rs four lakh to the kin of each of the four persons who were killed in rain-related incidents a few days ago in various parts of the state.
– Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy has sought immediate interim financial assistance of Rs 100 crore from the Centre, to take up relief works.
(With PTI inputs)