Heavy rains forecast in Chennai - National Disaster response force fully geared up
Posted on: 03/Nov/2016 3:41:18 PM
There were unprecedented continuous heavy rains and subsequent floods in Tamil Nadu last December. The heavy floods severely especially affected Chennai, Cuddalore, and Thoothukudi.
The Chennai Metro city was flooded in several urban areas. 421 people lost their lives. Goods and items worth hundreds of Crores of Rupees were damaged.
It has been warned that this year also, there is every likelihood of heavy rains similar to last year.
Tamil Nadu State Government Officials have taken various precautionary measures in the areas expected to be affected by floods.Following this, the Tamil Nadu state government has taken several precautionary measures.
Special squads, each headed by IAS Officers, have been formed to undertake the floods precautionary activities in every region.Presently, the higher officials of the Police Department have also been enlisted to assist in the flood precautionary activities. In Cuddalore, Police Officials of the Rank of IG (Inspector General) have been enlisted.
IG David Aaseervatham has been enlisted for Kanchipuram district. IG Sarangan has been enlisted for Thiruvallur district.
A special control room has been set up headed by Additional DGP A. K. Viswanathan and IG Sandip Roy Rathore.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force have been posted and kept on alert in the areas which are likely to be affected by floods. In the first phase, 5 squads from the National Diaster Response Force are to be invited.
They will be deployed from the National Disaster response Force camp at Arkonam. Each squad will have 45 persons. Thus, 225 persons (5 squads) are to be deployed.
They would be posted and kept on alert mode in Chennai, Cuddalore, and Thoothukudi from Friday (4th November). They would be ready with small rescue boats to carry the affected people away from the flooded areas. Each rescue boat can carry 10 persons.
After checking this weekend’s rain situation, a decision to ask for more squads from the National Disaster response Force will be taken.
