CHENNAI: The two Union Ministers - Nirmala Sitharaman and Pon Radhakrishnan - who visited rain-affected places in Cuddalore district and Chennai on Saturday will submit a report to the BJP high command very soon.
Both the leaders interacted with the public at many areas. Radhakrishnan visited Visur, Periyakattupalayam and met the Cuddalore District Collector on Saturday and would be visiting Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chennai districts again on Monday.
Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday visited CTO Colony, Kannadapalayam, Royappa Nagar, Sevasadan school relief camp, Madipakkam, Velacherry, Taramani, Saidapet and would be visiting Tiruvallur district and industrial areas like Avadi and Ambattur on Sunday.
Addressing the media here, Radhakrishnan blamed the Chennai Corporation for failure to prevent water stagnation.
Periyakattupalayam was one of the worst affected areas in Cuddalore district, he said and wondered why the administration had failed to learn lessons from the previous disasters like tsunami and Thane cyclone. He said in many places, `5,000 per family had been given to those who were not affected. Radhakrishnan said the intention behind the payment of this money was not clear. He asked the state government to take all precautionary measures to prevent the outbreak of any epidemic.
On why the Centre, suo motu, had not announced any relief assistance to the State, Nirmala Sitharaman said for all States, already a substantial fund under National Disaster Management Fund had been earmarked and the State government had the discretion to use that. Even when Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, he had indicated that the State government was managing the situation and any requirement would be conveyed to the Centre. The Central government agencies had already extended their assistance in relief works, she added.
SI saves two kids from drowning
Chennai: An SI braved floods to rescue three children who were pulled away in the floods in Palar. Of the three, two were siblings and one of them could not be saved. The cop, Damodaran, attached to Chengelpet Taluk police station received the distress call. On arrival, he jumped into the water. The cop reached out to the trio - Ajay (12), Vijay (10) and Solomon (12). However, Vijay could not be saved.