Chennai, Dec 5
The death toll from Chennai’s widespread deluge, caused by Cyclone Michaung, has gone up to 17 on Tuesday, police said. While the hours-long heavy rain in the city stopped on Monday night, streets remained waterlogged.
Coastal Andhra Pradesh, meanwhile, saw massive downpour on Tuesday, after Cyclone Michaung made landfall in the state, between Nellore and Kavali. Authorities in the state have moved around 9,500 people from vulnerable areas into 211 relief camps across affected districts. No casualties were reported in Andhra Pradesh.
The 17 deaths that took place in Chennai since Monday were mostly due to drowning, electrocution, collapsing walls and falling trees. Several others were injured.
Tamil Nadu authorities have moved 32,158 people to relief camps over two days. Currently, 411 relief centres are operational in the state. As many as 3 lakh packets of food have been distributed in three districts of Tamil Nadu.
The fishing community has been particularly badly affected, with 1,200 fishing boats completely damaged, and numerous others partially damaged or missing.
Chennai core areas, including Besant Nagar, Arumbakkam and Tondiarpet, witnessed hip-deep water, disrupting normal life and complicating rescue efforts. The Greater Chennai Corporation has deployed 21,000 staff, supplemented by 5,000 personnel from other districts, for rescue measures. Power outages persist in many regions, adding to residents’ woes.
The rain also led to the cancellation of around 300 flights, with the Chennai airport shutting down its airfield. The Southern Railway also cancelled several long-distance trains.
The Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) joined forces with state agencies in relief and rescue operations.
Despite a break in the rain, several areas like Velachery, Saidapet, and Tambaram continued to be under water on Tuesday evening. Rescue operations were underway in various neighbourhoods, with 1,340 boats deployed across the city.
Telecommunication networks also suffered significant disruptions, hindering rescue efforts and communications. The Chennai Metro Rail reported disruptions in its online ticket booking system due to patchy cellular connections. Commuters were urged to use metro rail smart cards or obtain plastic token tickets at station counters.
Authorities in Chennai were also keeping a close eye on the Chembarambakkam Lake, a critical water body for the city. As of now, the lake’s water levels are being maintained at 24 feet, its maximum capacity.
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan was among the many who were trapped in the city on Monday. He was rescued by the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services from Karapakkam. Aamir has been residing in Chennai since October, attending to his ailing mother.
