Civic body comes to the aid of residents stranded in storm

National Disaster Response Force personnel arrived from Arakkonam to aid the Corporation

Personnel of the National Disaster Response Force rushed to the city from Arakkonam on Wednesday to help Chennai Corporation cope with the cyclone.

Around 90 skilled personnel were stationed at Tiruvottiyur, Basin Bridge and Velachery for rescue and relief work. “Most of the personnel were asked to clear traffic congestion caused by uprooting of trees,” said Corporation commissioner D. Karthikeyan.

The Corporation set up 128 relief centres across the city for residents affected by the cyclone. However, residents came to only 11 such relief centres in Adyar zone and Teynampet zone.

“Many of the residents in low-lying areas chose to remain in their houses. Residents in marooned areas were unable to cook. So we supplied cooked food for 20,000 people,” said Mr. Karthikeyan.

Food was cooked in community kitchens in Basin Bridge, Gopalapuram, Perambur Barracks Road and Chintadripet. Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development K.P. Munusamy and Mayor Saidai S. Duraisamy visited the kitchens in Chintadripet and Gopalapuram.

The food was supplied to many residents at their doorsteps.

Around 15,000 packets of bread and milk packets of milk were also distributed to residents who opted for the food.

Three additional helpline numbers — 25619522, 25619523, 25619273 — were set up for receiving information on disasters in the city.

Power supply was suspended in many areas of the city after reports of fires in transformers in many areas. Diesel pump sets were used to bail out water in low-lying areas and subways. A dilapidated building on Harris Road in Pudupet collapsed on a transformer.

The power supply in most areas will be restored on Thursday, officials said.