Southern railway cancels 11 trains, diverts Two
Southern Railway has cancelled 11 trains and announced diversion of two other trains on December 2 due to inundation of railway tracks on the Chennai-Gudur Section. A Southern Railway release said the Chennai Central-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Andaman Exp, Chennai Central-Vijayawada Jan Shatabdi Express, Chennai Central-Howrah Coramandel Express, Chennai Central-Ahmedabad Navajeevan Express, Chennai Central-New Jalpaiguri (Weekly) Express and Puducherry-New Delhi (Weekly) Express have been cancelled. Train No 12711/12712 Chennai Central -Vijayawada Pinakini Express has been cancelled between Gudur- Chennai Central on Wednesday. Another press release said Puducherry-Chennai Egmore Express, Karaikudi-Chennai Egmore Pallavan Exp, Madurai-Chennai Egmore Vaigai Exp, Chennai Egmore-Tiruchirappalli Cholan Exp and Chennai Egmore-Puducherry Fast Passenger have been cancelled on Wednesday. Train No 12898 Bhubaneswar-Puducherry Express scheduled to arrive at Chennai Egmore on December 2 has been diverted via Perambur, Katpadi and Villupuram. Train No 16127 Chennai Egmore-Guruvayur Exp scheduled to leave Chennai Egmore at 07.40 hours on December 2, has been rescheduled to leave at 11.00 hours on December 2 and diverted via Perambur, Katpadi and Villupuram.
Rescue teams struggle to reach Urapakkam
More than 150 families in Urapakkam, located in Kancheepuram district, have been left stranded as emergency teams were unable to carry out rescue operations due to poor visibility and inaccessibility. Though officials from the Revenue department, Fire and Rescue Services department and the Forest department arrived at the spot, they found rescue operations increasingly difficult as the water levels continued to steadily increase as incessant rainfall continued. Raj Ganesh, a native of Tirunelveli working in a leading software company, was left stranded along with his eight-month-old baby and his four-and-a-half-year-old boy on the terrace of his apartment in Vaigai Nagar, Urapakkam as both bottom floors were inundated.
Jaya grants Rs4 Lakh aid to Kin of Four Rain Victims
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced a financial assistance of Rs4 lakh each to the families of four victims of rain fury in Tirunelveli and Chennai districts.
City airport shut, flights cancelled
The Chennai International and Domestic airports have been closed down due to heavy downpour. Officials cancelled all flights and other operations at the airport on Tuesday evening. “The airport is expected to remain closed till at least 6.30 am on Wednesday,” said Deepak Shastri, Director of the Chennai Airport.
woman dies as tree falls on auto
A 30-year-old woman, a mother of two, was killed after a tree fell on an auto rickshaw she was travelling in the heavy rains on Tuesday. The victim, of KGH Apartments in Jameen Pallavaram, had gone out to buy provisions and recharge her mobile. She took an auto and was proceeding on Dargah Street when a huge tree got uprooted and fell on the auto.
pvt omni buses halt services
Most private omni buses and 10 per cent of state transport buses from Koyambedu bus stand cancelled their trips on Tuesday night as inundation of the road between Tambaram and Chengalpet had left the expressway unusable. S Anand, who had arrived at the omni bus stand, said that bus tickets were at a very high premium. “With most operators cancelling their trips, only very few buses are operating and they demand 2-3 times more than what is generally charged,” he said. While it costs Rs700 to Rs800 to travel between Madurai and Chennai normally, on Tuesday, the rates shot up to Rs1200-Rs1800.
Evacuations begin as rain lashes city yet Again
Police and TN Fire and Rescue services personnel had another tough day at work following the fresh spell of heavy rains that lashed a beleaguered Chennai. Incessant rainfall since Monday had left several areas in the suburbs inundated and with the situation getting worse on Tuesday, rescue personnel had their days work cut out. “By 1 pm itself, our men were rescuing people from flooded areas in the Tambaram, Mudichur, Velachery and Red hills areas. The rains only got heavier after that and evacuation continued the whole day,” S Vijayasekar, Joint Director, TNFRS said.