THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government had offered support to flood-affected Tamil Nadu in the rescue operations, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy informed the Assembly on Thursday.
During a special remark on the floods, Speaker N Sakthan said that there were many Keralites stranded in Chennai. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had called up Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh the other day and expressed his concern for the Keralites affected by flood in Chennai. A helpline (9847347399) was set up in the ministry to provide assistance to reach out to the people in Chennai.
According to the ministry officials, more than 100 calls were received by Thursday noon. Most of the calls were about tracing relatives stranded in Chennai, he said.
Lack of mobile connectivity and power-cuts in the affected areas have made communication difficult. The helpline officials collect the details of the people stranded and pass it on to the National Disaster Relief Force through the police intelligence wing. The Non-Resident Keralites Affairs Department (NORKA) has also opened a dedicated line to help the flood-affected. The numbers are: 18004253939, 0471 2770522.
The NORKA officials in Thiruvananthapuram said that they received up to 300 calls and the details of the victims would be handed over to the officials in Chennai for further action.