TN requests Rs.2,000 crore, Centre releases Rs.940 crore
TN CM Jayalalitha wrote a letter to PM Modi and urged to immediately release Rs.2,000 crore to sustain relief work. She also pegged the damage due to flood in the state at Rs.8481 crore. She wrote that despite her government's preventive efforts, the state had suffered severe damage. After receiving the letter, PM Modi ordered the release of Rs.940 crore for flood relief.
Since November 9, Chennai received heavy rainfall inundating low-lying parts of the city by November 13. It resulted in the evacuation of over 1000 people from their homes, while a cyclone alert closed schools and colleges across several districts. By November 16, Chennai received 246.5 mm of rainfall, highest amount since November 2005. 10,000 people were rescued by the government in evacuation efforts.
Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa announced Rs.500 crore for relief and rehabilitation of people affected due to the heavy rain in the state. The CM's statement said about 58,000 food packets were distributed in 70 relief camps. The government had opened 121 camps for cattle affected in the rain. Water was removed from 207 locations, out of the 587 affected areas.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan slammed CM Jayalalithaa for not visiting the flood affected areas to see the damage. She said that the failures of AIADMK and DMK governments were exposed following the heavy rainfall in coastal Tamil Nadu. She also asked the state government to announce relief package for farmers in Cuddalore district who had lost their crop in the rain.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president E.V.K.S Elangovan said that the State Government had failed to take precautionary measures for floods. During a visit to the region to inspect rain-related damage, he said that it was the State Government's duty to protect people during natural calamities. He urged the CM to direct all Ministers to ensure proper disbursal of relief to the affected sections.
In a telephonic conversation with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, TN CM Jayalalithaa informed him about the flood situation in the state. She also told him that a detailed memorandum would be submitted for assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund and Centre. Rajnath Singh told Jayalalithaa that a central team would be sent for assessment after the memorandum was submitted.
According to government records, 169 people had lost their lives due to drowning and other rain related incidents.
