CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday explained in detail to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the extensive damages caused to infrastructure in Tamil Nadu by the heavy rains.
During the discussions held at INS Adyar, she briefed about the damages to roads, bridges, water supply and electricity systems. She said although the State government machinery had taken necessary precautionary measures and was prepared, the unprecedented, mammoth adversity required financial and logistic assistance from the Centre in a large measure.
The Chief Minister further said the State government machinery was fully mobilised and rescue and relief operations were launched in full swing. “Co-ordination teams comprising ministers and senior officials were deployed in each district and evacuation and relief carried out on a war footing. So far in the four districts of Chennai, Cuddalore, Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram 3.25 lakh persons have been rescued and evacuated, 300 boats have been mobilised, 4,327 relief centres have been opened, 9,39,030 persons have been accommodated in the relief centres, and 44,55,247 food packets have been distributed”, she recalled.
She said that the grim situation caused by heavy rains was further worsened by the releases from reservoirs in southern Andhra Pradesh which flow into water bodies and drainage systems in the northern districts. “The major drainage systems of all this water is through Chennai including the Adyar, Coovum, Kosasthalaiyar and other rivers”, she added.
She thanked the PM for the help rendered by the Central agencies. Nine columns of Army, 24 NDRF teams, 200 Navy personnel, 4 helicopters from Indian Air Force and 2 helicopters from the Coast Guard have been deployed for relief operations.