Chennai floods: 96 trains cancelled today as major tracks remain submerged

Chennai: Even though the torrential rains have stopped battering Tamil Nadu for now, the Indian Railways are still facing the herculean task of restoring services as the tracks at major station remain submerged.

"The tracks are still submerged at Chennai Egmore and Chennai Central which is making both entering and leaving the stations almost impossible. But we are working very hard nevertheless to help people," Railways Public Relations Officer Anil Saxena told ANI.

Talking about the rescue operation undertaken by the railways, Saxena said that on Thursday around eight special trains were run across areas like Bengaluru and Rameshwaram, rescuing around 10,000 people and that seven to eight trains will do the same on Friday as well.

"324 trains have been cancelled till now and we had to cancel 96 trains today but train operations will improve with time. We are trying to arrange drinking water and food for passengers. Yesterday we released 20,000 food and drinking packets. We are setting up medical booths and security help booths as well," Saxena added.

Meanwhile, with the rains having reduced, rescue operations by different teams have intensified in Tamil Nadu to rescue stranded people as they are trying to take advantage of the rain-less situation.

"The rains have stopped for now and its intensity has reduced. Out team will be heading out aggressively to the areas where people are stranded, especially where waterlogging is causing major trouble. We have broken up our teams into sector and have dispersed them in south Chennai where the damage is the most," DG NDRF OP Singh told ANI.

Going into details about the rescue operations planned, Singh said around 20 more teams will be deployed, totalling the teams to 50 in the flooded state as the operations intensify. Five teams that left from Punjab have reached and five more team from Guwahati and Patna will be reaching.

"We have rescued more than 9,000 people so far. Our biggest priority is to recue people and ensure them to safety. Our coordination is with the State Government and we have spoken to the Home Secretary and the relief commissioners as well," Singh said.

Meanwhile, support has been pouring in across the country to Chennai as relief funds, supplies and amenities are making their way to the rain-hit state.