Chennai and Surrounding Districts Prepare 931 Relief Centers: Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin Provides Update

Chennai : Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin reviewed the state’s preparedness for the northeast monsoon and preemptive measures at the State Disaster Management Control Center in Ezhilagam today, following the directives of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

During the review, he noted that from 6 AM yesterday to 6 AM today, Chennai received 4.6 cm of rainfall. Among the areas, the highest rainfall was recorded in Perungudi (6.1 cm) and Pattabiram (6.1 cm), while the lowest was in Thandarai (2.8 cm), Porur (3.0 cm), and Madhavaram (4.0 cm).

As a result of the rainfall, eight trees fell in Greater Chennai, with one already cleared, and the remaining seven expected to be cleared within an hour. The city has 300 relief centers prepared to accommodate 50 to 1,000 people each, stocked with essential supplies like water, biscuits, bread, and food. Out of the 22 underpasses in Chennai, 20 are open, while two are temporarily closed for water pumping and expected to reopen soon.

Regarding emergency response, 26 State Disaster Response Teams and 219 boats have been stationed across the state. Of these, 89 boats are in Chennai and 130 in other districts. Additionally, 300 relief centers are ready in Chennai, with 631 more in surrounding districts, totaling 931 centers.

Efforts to clear waterlogging are ongoing at more than 300 locations. Over the last 24 hours, there have been no reports of power outages, and of the 1,500 calls received at the city corporation’s control center, 600 have been resolved.

Sivaganga district recorded the highest rainfall in Tamil Nadu with 13.5 cm, followed by Virudhunagar at 7 cm. In terms of personnel, 15 IAS officers are monitoring the situation in Chennai, while senior IAS officers have been appointed as supervisory officers across all districts.

Furthermore, medical and public health departments have set up 1,000 medical camps statewide, including 100 in Chennai. Around 13,000 volunteers are registered in Chennai, with 65,000 volunteers ready across Tamil Nadu. If necessary, volunteers from other districts will be mobilized to Chennai.

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin assured the media that the state government is committed to minimizing disruptions and ensuring the safety of residents.

The review meeting was attended by various senior officials, including Ministers for Revenue, Disaster Management, Health, and Greater Chennai Corporation officials.