Chennai flood situation ‘very alarming’: Rajnath

Terming the situation in flood-hit Chennai as “very alarming”, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said in the Lok Sabha that the Centre will extend all possible assistance to the state governments in dealing with natural calamities.

“It would not be an exaggeration to say that Chennai has become an island as it has been cut off from all national and state highways,” he said, responding to a discussion on the flood situation in Tamil Nadu, Pudducherry and Andhra Pradesh.

Sharing the concern of members on the magnitude of the calamity, he said the megapolis was witnessing an unprecedented emergency situation with unrelenting rains, which was a record in the past 100 years. He said in the 24 hours ending 8.30 am on December 2, Chennai had received 330 mm of rain when the fact is that in the whole of December it generally gets 250 mm.

As many as 269 people have died in Tamil Nadu due to the torrential rains, while two in Pudducherry and 54 in Andhra Pradesh.

Detailing the help being provided by the government for the rescue and relief operation, he said 12 boats of Navy along with 155 personnel have also been pressed into service.

He said while the state government had sought Rs 8,481 crore as central assistance, the Centre has provided Rs 940.92 crore. He also assured the states of further assistance.

Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he himself had spoken to the Tamil Nadu chief minister while he had also spoken with Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry chief ministers.