Amid reports that burglars were looting locked houses in flood-hit areas in and around Chennai, the Tamil Nadu police on Sunday formed teams to patrol vulnerable households. Night patrolling was intensified after people in many localities informed of strangers moving around in a suspicious manner intercepting motorists in the dark, police sources said.
At the police headquarters, Director-General of Police Ashok Kumar held discussions with senior officials and directed the police to conduct storming operations to rein in anti-social elements who may try to exploit the situation.
Hundreds of police on motorcycles and foot patrol were deployed along the residential areas that were flooded in the torrential rains. Besides the local police, personnel of the Coastal Security Group, Tamil Nadu Special Police and Home Guards were roped in for the security, rescue and relief operations. “Hundreds of people residing along the banks of the Adyar River and other tanks that were brimming with water were moved to safety by the police. We are also providing food, clothing and medicines,” a senior police official said.
He said there were reports that burglars were targeting locked houses in areas that were flooded. “Since people have moved to safer places and there is no electricity, it is possible that the burglars could attempt to break in. We have even organised police patrolling on boats to keep tabs on suspects,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said it had launched Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) on a massive scale in flood-ravaged districts.
A 24/7 control room in New Delhi and NDRF on-site emergency operation coordination centre at Kilpauk in Chennai was monitoring the operations and was in touch with other agencies. People could call NDRF helpline number 011-24363260 and +91-9711077372 for assistance, sources in the agency said.
