After Sunday’s torrential downpour that submerged many parts of Chennai and its suburbs, the rain eased off on Monday to the relief of thousands of residents, who are still marooned and living without electricity, water and food.
While boats were pressed into service to rescue the stranded in Velachery, two helicopters from the Indian Air Force station airlifted 22 persons to safety in Tambaram. After a review meeting, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa toured the rain-affected areas on Monday afternoon, assuring people of faster and immediate relief.
Announcing Rs. 500-crore for relief and rehabilitation, she also constituted two teams of IAS officials to speed up relief work in the city and its southern suburbs.
DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin, PMK chief ministerial- candidate Anbumani Ramadoss, TMC president G.K. Vasan and MDMK general secretary Vaiko hit the city’s flooded streets to distribute food.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department indicated that the coastal parts of the State would get a respite from rain.
There would be decrease in rainfall as the well marked low pressure area over southwest Bay of Bengal has moved off north Tamil Nadu coast and would cross south Andhra Pradesh coast.
Holiday declared The rain, however, would continue over Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chennai where the Collectors announced a holiday on Tuesday for schools and colleges.
“There is only 25 per cent of chance for the weather system to intensify into a depression.
“Very heavy rainfall up to 24 cm is possible in only a few places of the State on Tuesday. Chennai may experience one or two spells of heavy rainfall,” said S.R. Ramanan, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre.
Train cancelled
Train No 02836 Ernakulam- Howrah special train, scheduled to leave Ernakulam at 08.50 hrs. on 17.11.2015 has been cancelled due to heavy rain, a press release from Southern Railway said.
