TN This Week: Mitigation Work on, Schools Shut for 6th Day; CM Announces Rs 6,000 Relief
Image credit: Prakash R
Cyclone Michaung, which brought down half a meter of rain on Chennai and neighbouring districts in three days, caused widespread waterlogging, leading to chaos and devastation. The power supply was severely affected, leaving several residents without electricity for 24 hours and more since Tuesday. The death toll from the widespread deluge went up to 17 on Tuesday. Read more
Schools and colleges in Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, and Kancheepuram districts remained closed throughout this week because of the impact of Cyclone Michaung.
The South Central Railway (SCR) cancelled 118 trains operating from Chennai Central railway station connecting various cities across India. Chennai Central and Chennai Egmore, the two major terminals in Chennai city, were restored to normalcy on Thursday.
Flight services also took a hit, with delays reported for several departing and arriving flights at Chennai airport, which has been closed for arrival operations. Read more
Around 500 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were deployed at various districts in the state, in view of the cyclonic storm Michaung.
Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking Rs 5,060 crore as interim flood relief from the Union government to repair the devastation caused by cyclone Michaung in the state. The PM directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to release in advance the second instalment of the Centre’s contribution to the SDRF of Rs 450 crore to Tamil Nadu in view of the floods.
CM MK Stalin held a review meeting, on Saturday, with the chief secretary and various department secretaries from all the 15 zones in Chennai City to examine solid waste management, sanitation, and public health after the havoc caused by cyclone Michaung-induced floods in Chennai, Tiruvallur, and Kanchipuram districts.
A lot of garbage was seen scattered on the roads of Chennai in the aftermath of the cyclone. Locals demanded that Greater Chennai Corporation clear the garbage as it may create health issues.
The State Health Department issued a health advisory for medical care, hygiene practices, mosquito control, and vaccine, in view of the floods followed by cyclone Michaung in Chennai and the neighboring districts.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCN) stated that it inspected the site where oil had mixed into the water in Buckingham Canal in Chennai and directed the authorities of the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) to remove the floating oil using gully suckers.
Bike and car repair shops were involved in repairing two-wheelers as they got damaged due to floods.
State finance minister Thangam Thennarasu on Friday held a meeting with major insurance companies and automobile dealers to ensure hasty sanctioning of insurance claims raised by automobile owners affected by cyclone Michaung.
Chief Minister M K Stalin announced that special camps would be opened for issuing fresh certificates to replace the important documents that people might have lost in the floods caused by the cyclone in the four districts of Chennai, Thiruallur, Chengalpattu, and Kanchipuram to be held on December 11.
A total of 1,32,858 persons were screened at 3,282 special medical camps that were held across the State on Saturday.
More than one crore people have been affected by the natural disaster. It is not only a calamity for Chennai and its surrounding districts but a disaster for the whole of Tamil Nadu, the chief minister said, in his appeal to the people to donate to relief funds. On Saturday, he announced Rs 6,000 each to all of the families that have been affected by the cyclone.
CPM and CPI on Saturday announced that their MPs and MLAs would donate their one-month salary to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund.
Reiterating that the DMK government should publish a white paper on the stormwater drain project carried out in the state capital, Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday demanded the government to act swiftly to drain the stagnated water from residential areas to restore normalcy from the impact of heavy rain triggered by cyclonic storm Michaung.
The rainfall triggered by cyclone Michaung from December 2 to 4 was the heaviest in the 47-year history of Chennai.
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