Tamil Nadu: Meteorological Department predicts more rain, death toll 215
Chennai: The death toll in rain-related incidents in the state rose to 210 on Thursday. As if that were not enough, weathermen brought more bad news, predicting rains in the state during the next 24 hours even as the city among a few other flood-hit northern districts was struggling to limp back to normalcy.
Meanwhile, Chennai district collector Sundaravalli ‘sounded’ flood alert and advised people living along Adyar river to shift to safer places owing to the discharge of 5,000 cusecs from an already brimming Chembarambakkam lake that could leave at least a few parts of the city flooded again.
Chief minister Jayalalithaa said in a statement that 24 more deaths have been reported in the past few days, taking the death toll in rain-related incidents like drowning and wall-collapse to 111. Cuddalore reported the maximum number of casualties with 55 deaths followed by Kancheepuram’s 35 and 29 in Chennai.
Jayalalithaa announced a relief of Rs 4 lakh each to the bereaved families. Meanwhile, after a let-up of two days, Chennai witnessed rains in many parts, including suburban Tambaram and Kundrathur, parts of which still remain submerged. Luckily for Chennai, Thursday’s forecast suggested rain mostly along Western Ghats for the next 24 hours.
In many places in the city, water was yet to completely recede and many people had moved to safer areas even as those who chose to stay home had to deal with small snakes and other insects swept in along with the rainwater.
Police start boat patrolling to prevent thefts from flooded houses
In view of the large-scale evacuation of residents from flooded residential areas in and around Tambaram, Mudichur and certain stretches between Rajiv Gandhi Salai and East Coast Road as well as Villivakkam and surrounding areas, city police have started boat patrolling since Wednesday night.
Hundred policemen are earmarked for patrolling work in flooded areas in each zone. “The patrolling in flooded areas started on Wednesday night,” a senior police officer said.
“It is easy for burglars to target flooded houses at this time of distress. An unconfirmed report suggests that a house at Injambakkam was looted by thieves who arrived in a boat and emptied house-hold articles, except refrigerator. As the inmates of such houses are away, burglars are finding it easy to loot without being noticed,” police sources said.
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