New Delhi: New Delhi: Congress Vice President RahulGandhi today left for a visit to flood-affected areas of Chennai and its suburbs and Puducherry.
Gandhi would first visit Puducherry and later Cuddalore and Chennai during the day-long visit. Earlier there was speculation that Rahul and his mother Sonia Gandhi would appear before a Delhi court in the National Herald case after the Delhi High Court turned down their plea for exemption from personal appearance but a senior counsel is likely to appear before court today and press for new dates when the case comes up for hearing. During his visit to Tamil Nadu, Rahul would also be visiting Kancheepuram.
Chennai, Cuddalore and Kancheepuram were the worst-hit during the torrential rains that battered TN leading to over 270 deaths.
After arriving at Puducherry airport, Gandhi will visit Rodierpet, Riyankuppam, Krimambakkam and a few other areas here and distribute relief materials to the affected people.
With water now receding from most parts of rain-battered Chennai and its suburbs, the focus is now being shifted on clearing the various areas of the waste left behind along with rehabilitation of the affected people.
The educational institutions, including schools and colleges, will remain closed today and tomorrow in Chennai for cleaning of the flood-hit areas.
Air dropping of relief materials has been called off since road connectivity has improved.
Meanwhile, the following trains have been cancelled today.
11042 Chennai Central -Mumbai CST Express
12615 Chennai Central - New Delhi Grand Trunk Express
12621 Chennai Central - New Delhi Tamil Nadu Express
Trains from Chennai Egmore:
12390 Chennai Egmore - Gaya Express
16129 Chennai Egmore - Tuticorin Link Exp
Trains from other stations:
11064 Salem - Chennai Egmore Express
12674 Coimbatore - Chennai Central
06125 Kollam - Chennai Central Express
12507 Trivandrum Cntl - Guwahati Express
12512 Trivandrum Cntl - Gorakhpur Jn
13352 Alleppey - Dhanbad Jn Dhanbad Exp
22643 Ernakulam Jn - Patna Exp
