At least 130 boats were used to ferry people from flood-affected areas
Buildings submerged in rainwater in Mudichur near Tambaram. (Photo: DC)
Chennai: As many as 34,426 people, including 16,000 in and around Tambaram, have been evacuated from flood affected areas in the district during the last two days and have been given shelter in 116 camps with food and water, Kancheepuram collector said on Tuesday.
Of them, 10,067 people were rescued using boats. Rescue operations were in full swing with various agencies including army, navy and air force chipping in, P. Gajalakshmi, Kancheepuram collector told media.
At least 130 boats were used to ferry people from flood-affected areas. Over 1 lakh food packets and drinking water were distributed in Kancheepuram district, where 23 people died during the recent heavy rains and related floods.
Three ministers – S.P. Velumani, P. Thangamani and TKM Chinnaya along with tourism secretary K. Rajaraman and Gajalakshmi coordinated rescue operations. Apart from government agencies, fishermen had also used their boats to ferry stranded people to safe places.
Defence agencies deployed three choppers for airlifting people from various water filled areas. Although, government agencies maintained that 95 per cent stranded people have been were from the flooded area, sources indicated that many people remained stranded in their flooded homes without food, water and electricity.
National Disaster and Response Force has deployed 47 boats for rescuing people in flood affected areas in south Chennai and Kancheepuram. “NDRF had started sending its rescue teams to flood affected areas in Tamil Nadu since November 10 and during last one week rescue teams were operating in various districts – and rescued over 2,000 people.
At present, 12 teams, fully equipped to handle flood situations and structural collapses have been deployed in Tambaram and some other areas in Kancheepuram,” said Rekha Nambiar, Senior Commandant, NDRF, when contacted.
‘Navy ready to provide all possible help’
Standing firmly behind the people of Chennai and the entire Tamil Nadu, Indian Navy on Tuesday moved its flood relief and rescue team to Vadakal village at Chengalpattu. The team is working in close coordination with RDO Tambaram and BDO Vadakal in rescuing stranded villagers and moving them to places of safety.
“Indian Navy is completely ready in all respects for providing all possible assistance. Upon the request of the state administration, our well equipped team comprising divers, swimmers, two inflatable Gemini Crafts, diving and associated rescue gear and life jackets have already been deployed for flood relief and rescue operations.
The team was positioned at municipality office at Tambaram on Monday for deployment in affected areas under the guidance of Rajaraman, Secretary, Tourism,” said Commodore Alok Bhatnagar, Naval Officer in-charge (Tamil Nadu & Puducherry.) In addition, a Naval Helicopter at INS Rajali at Arakkonam too has been kept as a standby for State government’s use.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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