Parts of Chennai continue to reel under the impact of the severe flooding that took place in the city earlier this week. Chennai witnessed incessant rainfall on Monday and Tuesday because of Cyclone Michaung that struck the Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday. The heavy rain inundated Chennai with water entering homes, roads turning into rivers, trees and electric poles getting uprooted, and vehicles being swept away or fully submerged.
While the rain has subsided and some parts of Chennai are limping back to normalcy, residents in South Chennai and parts of North Chennai await assistanceand are grappling with issues such as power shortages, milk scarcity, and persistent water stagnation.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting immediate relief funds of Rs 5,000 crore to deal with the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday visited Chennai. The Defence Minister, after taking an aerial survey of the flood situation in the city, announced the release of first installment of Rs 450 crore for the flood mitigation project.
MILK SHORTAGE
Residents have reported shortage of milk at state-run Aavin booths in many areasfor the past three days. Complaints include delays in milk supply, particularly in Velachery and Tambaram, with allegations of overcharging.
Tamil Nadu Milk and Dairy Development Minister Mano Thangaraj stated that Chief Minister MK Stalin has urged private milk suppliers to increase overall milk supply.
The State Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena assured that milk supply would return to the usual daily quantity of 19 lakh litres for Chennai and its surrounding areas from Thursday. Additionally, over 6,600 kg of milk powder from other districts is being supplied.
POWER CRISIS
Some areas, including Kilpauk and Kattupakkam, faced disruptions in power supply on Wednesday. The government clarified that power supply had been preemptively cut in areas with submerged power cables to prevent accidents.
95 out of 1,812 feeders in the city remain offline, with power restoration expected as water recedes.
Residents in Vysarpadi in Chennai staged protests expressing frustration over power cuts in the area on Wednesday.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SHUT
Due to severe flooding, the Tamil Nadu government declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Thursday in four districts: Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram.
Educational institutions, such as Jerusalem College of Engineering in Pallikaranai, remain affected.
TRAINS CANCELLED
While suburban train services resumed, the Southern Railway on Thursday cancelled 15 trains due to waterlogging in city.
Affected services include the Chennai Egmore-Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Special and Tirunelveli-Chennai Egmore Vande Bharat Special.
The cancelled trains include Chennai Central-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (Adaman Express), Chennai Central-Vijayawada Vande Bharat Express, Chennai Central-Mysuru Vande Bharat Express, Chennai Central-Mysuru Shatabdi Express, Chennai Central-Coimbatore Kovai Express, Chennai Central-KSR Bengaluru Brindavan Express, Chennai Central-Tirupati Express, Tirupati- Chennai Central Express, Chennai Central-Tirupati Express, Tirupati- Chennai Central Express, Chennai Central-Coimbatore Shatabdi Express, Chennai Central-Vijayawada Jan Shatabdi Express, Chennai Central-KSR Bengaluru Double Decker Express, Chennai Egmore – Tirunelveli Vande Bharat Special and Tirunelveli-Chennai Egmore Vande Bharat Special.
FOOD AID
Political leaders cut across the party lines seen on the waterlogged streets to provide supplies to the stranded residents. Chief Minister Stalin distributed food relief materials in Chennai on Thursday.
An Indian Air Force helicopter dropped relief materials in the Madipakkam area of rain-affected Chennai. On Wednesday, the Chennai Police Commissioner distributed food materials and drinking water in Valechery area.
