CM Puts All on Alert

Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin put his council of Ministers and other party leaders like MPs, MLAs and representatives of civil bodies on alert on Wednesday by urging them to rush to the aid of people affected by the rains.

Anticipating heavy rains in the coming days due to the weather forecast on the low pressure area in Southeast Bay of Bengal turning into a well-marked low pressure, a depression and then a cyclonic storm bringing copious rains to many parts of Tamil Nadu, Stalin had asked party honchos to reach out to the people.

The government on its part had made all necessary arrangements to meet any situation that might arise due to the rains that could continue for a few more days.

Apart from keeping disaster management teams on alert mode, arrangements had been made to open relief camps for providing food and shelter for those displaced by the possible floods by the revenue department.

District collectors have been entrusted with the responsibility of rescue and relief operations in their districts concerned and Corporation commissioners have been asked to respond quickly to any emergency situation in the cities.

The National Weather Forecasting Centre had warned for heavy rains at isolated places in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal till December 1 and light to moderate, scattered to fairly widespread rainfall till December 5.

Squally weather has been forecast in many places where the impact of the cyclonic storm would be felt and fishermen have been warned not to set out to the sea during the inclement weather.