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Chennai floods: Events as they unfolded on Wednesday
IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rains for Tamil Nadu till Thursday.
Latest Updates
Shah Rukh Khan tweeted the following:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to make aerial survey of flood-hit Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts.
Also Read - TN Govt issues advisory to pvt undertakings to declare holiday on Dec 3, 4
Airbus 320 test lands at Rajali naval base in Arakkonam which will function as a make shift airport for passenger flights, as per ANI.
AAI trying to shift stranded passengers at Chennai Airport to Tirupati and Bengaluru: Mahesh Sharma,MoS, Civil Aviation.
A tweet which noted music director AR Rahman posted yesterday:
All officers, staff of IR ordered to help stranded,affected persons, in TN, provide all help and to run trains,despite challenges. MR monitoring, tweets Union Rail Minister.
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Union Minister JP Nadda today spoke to Tamil Nadu Health Minister assuring all possible help.
Chennai airport to remain shut till December 6, says AAI.
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HM Rajnath Singh will make a statement in both the houses of the Parliament on chennai floods tomorrow.
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We have so far sent 22 NDRF teams, they are carrying almost 80 boats with them. Have evacuated more than 500 people so far and we are getting calls, messages from affected people, attending them. If situations becomes ugly, then we will have to pump in more teams from various other parts of the country: NDRF DG OP Singh.
Have asked my chief secretary to talk to TN's chief secretary, to give assistance of about 5 crores: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah.
Chennai has been officially declared a disaster zone, as per reports.
Have asked govt to proclaim chennai floods as natural disaster, take measures to provide rescue and relief ops: Kanimozhi.
BSNL to provide free services for a week.
Have evacuated more than 500 people so far and we are getting calls, messages from affected people, attending them: NDRF DG, OP Singh as per ANI.
Also Read - Chennai floods: Paytm announces free mobile recharge of Rs 30
Helpline number, Southern Railway at Chennai Central - 044-25330714 and Chennai Egmore - 044-28190216.
Also Read: Zomato launches Chennai food relief meal delivery service
Just In - NDRF teams leave for Tamil Nadu from Delhi with relief material.
Deployment of Army and other forces for rescue ops in Tamil Nadu discussed in meeting by Home Minister. He has assured all possible assistance will be given, reports ANI.
RS members proposal to contribute MPLAD towards chennai rains relief fund. Exemplary idea. Do remember Komen Cycone that hit Bengal in Augns in TN, tweets TMC MP Derek O'Brien.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik speaks to TN CM Jayalalithaa, conveying his concern over torrential and recurring rains in TN, as per ANI.
Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad says BSNL will not charge its customers in Chennai for one week starting today due to the flood situation.
DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi says the situation in Tamil Nadu is very bad.
"Agriculture, cattle, everything is getting affected. Hospitals have no power," she told Rajya Sabha a little while back. "Students have not gone to schools for more than 15 to 16 days, books washed away in floods," she added.
Rajya Sabha MPs will contribute towards the relief for Chennai floods victims. Amount will be decided after consulting RS Chairman.
Alok Bhatnagar, Naval officer in charge of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, says ship carrying basic facilities like drinking water and food will arrive tomorrow.
"We have deployed helicopters and boats in several parts for relief and rescue measures," adds Bhatnagar.
Railway PRO Anil Saxena says they have had to cancel 23 trains, divert 11 and partially cancel 8 trains due to heavy rains in Chennai.
Passengers are advised to check status of their trains before embarking on their journey, Saxena says further, adding, "We're taking measures to provide drinking water and other basic facilities to passengers stranded in trains and at stations".
Here are some of the areas in Chennai that have been most affected by the heavy downpour:
Chennai floods: Train services severely hit due to heavy downpour
Home Minister Rajnath Singh will hold a meeting on Chennai flood situation and the rescue and relief measures, Union minister Venkaiah Naidu has informed the Lok Sabha.
Situation is worrying in Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh. Alternate arrangements are being made. We have also set up a helpline, says Suresh Prabhu, Railway Minister.
A news was doing the rounds that crocodiles have escaped from the Madras Crocodile Bank. The news was a hoax and residents of Chennai need not worry.
The Hindu, one of the country's most respected and oldest daily, did not come out with a Chennai edition today. It is the first time since 1878 that the newspaper was not printed in Chennai. The Hindu did not come out with Chennai edition today as its workers could not access the press due to rains and floods in Chennai.
In a bid to assist people stranded in Chennai due to flooding, telecom major Airtel has announced an auto credit of upto Rs 30 talk time, free of cost credit of 10 minutes of Airtel-to-Airtel calling, and free credit of 50 MB mobile data for its prepaid customers.
Many users on Twitter are also alerting people. Here's one such tweet:
Also Read: Rajinikanth donates Rs 10 lakh for rain-hit Tamil Nadu
Earlier in the day, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi expressed concern over the situation in Chennai. He tweeted:
Also Read: 'Worried' Rahul Gandhi urges Congress workers to extend help
Indian Coast Guard has also joined the rescue operations in Chennai.
More heavy rains are expected till tomorrow in Tamil Nadu, after which the intensity will decrease but rainfall will continue, says director, IMD.
Navy PRO says they have deployed naval teams deployed, swimmers, divers and UAVs to help in relief and rescue and also get real time information.
ANI reports that Indian Army rescue columns have reached out to victims of floods in Chennai and succeeded in rescuing over 50 civilians to safety in Gudvancheri and Mudichur.
With civil communication and towers out of order in Chennai, Army is resorting to radio communication for co-ordinating rescue operations.
Also, while flood rescue operations are in progress, more Army columns are being brought in to augment rescue efforts.
Now flooding is also being reported from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh.
Also Read: Chennai rains - Flooded city airport shut till 6 am tomorrow
Shelter for housing 100 needy personnel kept ready at INS Adyar. Medical team kept standby for deputing at short notice, reports ANI.
Also Read: Chennai rains severely hit IT and automobile companies
IMD director general LS Rathore says rains in coastal areas of South India are expected to continue for the next 72 hours. "The situation is worse in north Tamil Nadu. Now heavy rains expected in south Tamil Nadu and Kerala too," Rathore stated.
Also Read: Chennai weather forecast - Heavy rains predicted over next 48 hours
INS Airawat is now headed to Chennai from Vizag for rescue operations in flood-affected areas, says CG Raju, Navy PRO (Vizag). "INS Airawat equipped with 5 Jamini boats, 20 divers, lot to relief material, will reach Chennai today late evening or early tomorrow morning." Raju adds.
The unprecedented torrential rains have battered Tamil Nadu`s northern districts such as Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram and Cuddalore, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said while speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. Jayalalithaa told Modi that the state machinery was geared up to tackle the challenges.
During the last spell of rains, around 180 people lost their lives in the four district of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Cuddalore and Thiruvallur.
The rains stopped this morning and provided some respite to the people, but the weather office has forecast heavy rains for next three days. Schools and colleges, meanwhile, remain shut.
It is also raining opportunity for taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers who are charging sky high rates to ply short distances. IANS reports that a taxi driver charged Rs 4,500 to transport three persons from airport to a hotel in Anna Salai.
There is no power supply in many areas of Chennai, and mobile phone services have also been affected due to the rains.
IANS reports that flooding is severe in suburban areas with water levels covering the ground floor and threatening to enter the first floor. People living at higher levels were opening up their doors to help the strangers.
"The situation was bad and the water level was increasing," Jenson, resident of Sunambu Kolathur of Kanchipuram district, said.
Residents of Chennai are sharing their ordeals in the wake of Chennai rains.
"Water came into our apartment and we had to shift to our neighbour's house on the first floor," Revathi Vasan, resident of west Mambalam, told IANS.
Another family living on the ground floor has also shifted with us, Revathi said. "There is waist deep water level around our apartment," she added.
Cabinet Secretary will meet Indian Meteorological Department's director general, Home Secretary, and officials of the NDRF and NDMA at 12.30 pm to review the situation in Chennai.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently meeting Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Chennai Rains.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh says he is in touch with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and assured of all help in the wake of Chennai rains.
"I talked to Tamil Nadu CM a week back, had assured her of all assistance. PM also talked to her yesterday," Rajnath said.
Many trains have been cancelled or diverted due to rains in Chennai. Check out the complete list here:
Meanwhile, this is also happening in Chennai flooded by rains.
Ola Cabs is continuing to provide boat services to help people in Chennai stuck due to rains.
The weather is clearing up in Chennai, report Twitter users. Here's one such tweet:
Reports from Chennai say rains have stopped in most parts of the city as of now.
ANI reports that 25 to 30 people have been rescued by the Army from Gudvancheri and Urapakkam. 15 have also been rescued from a stranded bus in Manapakkam.
NDRF DG OP Singh says their teams from Odisha and Bihar have not been able to land in Chennai due to waterlogging at the airport.
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Some pictures from Chennai which reveal the ground situation.
Chennai airport will remain shut for the day, it has been announced.
Heavy rainfall warning has also been issued for next four days for South Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.
A statement issued by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa says, examinations of all state board schools, which were originally scheduled from December 7 onwards will now be held in the first week of January next year.
To help the people of Chennai, Twitter gets involved with Twitter India asking people to tweet with the hastag: #ChennaiRainsHelp.
"As soon as weather clears, we have planned to run 2 bigger aircrafts with Chennai to clear pending large rush accumulated there," ANI quotes Lohani as saying.
Problem in Chennai due to heavy rains, runways underwater, says Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani.
Here's the list of trains which has been cancelled for December 02:
Karaikkudi – Chennai Pallavan Express
Madurai – Chennai Egmore Vaigai Express
Chennai Egmore– Pondicherry Express
Chennia– Tiruchirappalli ExpressMore train cancellations likely on December 2, appeal passengers to check their train status, we're trying to inform people: Anil Kumar Saxena, Addl DG (PR), Railways.
Also Read: PM Modi speaks to Jayalalithaa, assures all support
Chennai Airport to remain closed throughout the night, status to be reviewed at 6 AM in morning. Flights diverted to Bengaluru and Hyderabad - ANI.
Two sections badly affected, Chennai Egmore Villupuram section and Chennai Central Gudur section: Anil Kumar Saxena, Addl DG (PR), Railways to ANI.
More teams on standby in Odisha and Bihar, to be airlifted to Chennai once operations start again at Chennai airport, says DG NDRF, as per ANI.
Ten teams of NDRF already deployed in Tamil Nadu, 5 teams comprising 300 men about to reach Tamil Nadu: NDRF DG OP Singh to ANI.
Army Helpline Number - 9840295100.
To alleviate sufferings of people in Tamil Nadu Railways will do its utmost,despite several lines badly affected, setting up helplines too, tweets Union Rail Minister.
Two columns of Army has been deployed with four NDRF teams.
Also, as per reports, massive operations are underway in Tambaram and Urapakkam.
Following is the government helpline number - 1913.
Congress leader Khushboo tells NDTV - No electricity for two and a half hours.
Power grids have been shut down for safety reasons. No power till rain stops. We are now in darkness. This is depressing, tweeted actor Siddharth earlier in the evening:
Following are the Emergency Contact Numbers announced by Chennai Corporation for all the regional zones in the city:
Tree fall, Waterlogging - 1913
Sewage overflow - 45674567, 22200335
State Emergency - 1070
District Emergency - 1077
Electricity - 1912
Fire & Rescue -101
1st Regional Office (Tiruvottiyur) - 9445190001
2nd Regional Office(Manali) - 9445190002
3rd Regional Office (Madhavaram) - 9445190003
4th Regional Office(Tondiarpet) - 9445190004
5th Regional Office(Royapuram)- 9445190005
6th Regional Office(Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar) - 9445190006
7th Regional Office(Ambattur) - 9445190007
8th Regional Office(Annanagar) - 9445190008
9th Regional Office(Teynampet) - 9445190009
10th Regional Office(Kodambakkam) - 9445190010
11th Regional Office (Valasaravakkam)- 9445190011
12th Regional Office(Alandur) - 9445190012
13th Regional Office (Adyar)- 9445190013
14th Regional Office(Perungudi) - 9445190014
15th Regional Office(Sholinganallur) - 9445190015"We are fighting against nature now. Only God can help us now," says CR Saraswathi, AIADMK spokesperson, as per NDTV.
"Operations at Chennai airport stopped due to safety reasons till 11 pm. Runway, taxiway and adjoining areas are flooded," says Deepak Shashtri, Chennai Airport Director, as per NDTV.
Army has been called in for rescue ops, as per reports.
Just in - Chennai airport temporarily closed due to water-logging after heavy rains.
Heavy rain forecasted on Wednesday for Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Puducherry and many coastal areas, as per ANI.
Pictures of Chennai Airport flooded with water:
A post re-tweeted by cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle which has helpline numbers:
Following is the address of an relief camp at Mudichur Road:
If you need your phone to be recharged, please contact a good samaritan Bhu Pesh:
Following post on Twitter reflects the difficult times people are facing:
If someone needs a place to stay they they can contact Ganesh Thanigaivel, Esakkimuthu, Vivek Narayanan and Sreedhar Pillai who have tweeted the following:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks to Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa on flood situation, assures all possible support and cooperation.
Ola Boat launched in all Chennai Area. It can be contacted at 7708068600.
Met office have cautioned of more showers in the next four days across Tamil Nadu with some regions likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Flight operations also took a hit due to rains. Airport officials said one flight, which had left Colombo this morning, returned.
As a result of the rains, Poondi, Cholavaram, Puzhal and Chembarambakkam reservoirs that feed Chennai have touched 83.8 per cent of its capacity and out of the 14,098 lakes under the PWD in Tamil Nadau 6,791 lakes are full.
"Police, Fire and Rescue, National and State Disaster Forces, Coast Guard have been kept ready for need-based evacuation of people from flood hit regions," Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa said in an official release.
"I have ordered Ministers to inspect the regions experiencing heavy rains since last night," she said, as per PTI.
She also ordered postponement of half-yearly examinations for school children to next month previously slated to be held from December 7.
"I have ordered officials to take precautionary measures before releasing surplus waters from reservoirs and evacuate people living in low-lying areas," she said.
She also ordered a solatium of Rs four lakh to the kin of each of the four persons who were killed in rain related incidents a few days ago in various parts of the State.
Heavy rains on Tuesday pounded several parts of Tamil Nadu with most areas of Chennai witnessing water logging severely disrupting train and bus services as Chief Minister Jayalalithaaa reviewed the situation and deputed ministers to inspect the affected regions.
The death toll in the rain related incidents touched 188, according to the state government and twelve trains leaving Chennai Egmore were cancelled due to water overflowing on railway tracks between Villupuram - Tambaram section. Also, eleven trains were diverted.
Tamil Nadu's capital Chennai has been crippled by what authorities are describing as the worst rain in a century. The rains have left the city submerged and airport flooded. Train and bus services have also been brought to a halt by the incessant rains. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has reviewed the situation and deputed ministers to inspect the affected regions.
Must Read: If you are stuck in Chennai floods, here are dos and don'ts
Helpline Numbers: Tree fall and water logging - 1913; Sewage overflow - 45674567, 22200335; State Emergency - 1070; District Emergency - 1077; Electricity - 1912; Fire & Rescue -101; Army - 9840295100; NDRF - 9711077372, 01124363260, Navy - 25394240