NDRF Sends 20 More Teams; Rescues 10,000 Stranded Flood Victims
The unprecedented rains have killed 269 people. PM Modi announced a Rs 1,000 crore package for the flood-hit state.
advertisement
The NDRF intensified its relief and rescue operations, on Friday, in the rain and flood-battered Chennai and its adjoining areas, as it added 20 more teams for the job and rescued over 10,000 people till now.
The existing deployment of the NDRF units has been made in and around Chennai, Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Vellore and Cuddalore, apart from small batches of rescuers responding on a need-basis to random areas. Two NDRF teams, out of the total working 30, are deployed in Puducherry for these tasks.
The force, till now, had sent in over 830 life jackets, 520 life buoys and 25 deep diving sets along with 45 trained deep divers to assist the local administration in the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief work.
Director General of the force, O P Singh, will also travel to the state to review the operations and effectively monitor these activities.
The DG said that his teams are expected to rescue and reach out to more number of people today as the water has receded in some places and power has been restored.
An official NDRF spokesperson said that by 1 pm, a total of 10,589 people were moved to safer places by the teams.
It has also activated helpline number at its control room here – 011-24363260, 09711077372 and the Twitter handle @NDRFHQ. As the Chennai airport is shut due to flood, the force is operating from the INS Rajali Naval airbase at Arakkonam, about 60-kms from Chennai.
The unprecedented rains have killed 269 people till now. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a Rs 1,000 crore package for the flood-hit state.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)