Chennai: It seems the rains are not going to leave Tamilnadu and Kerala anytime soon as Met Department has again forecast heavy rainfall over the ghat regions.
In the last 24 hours, Devala, Chinnakalar and Valparai have recorded rainfall of 11 cm, 10 cm and 8 cm, respectively, with the southwest monsoon winds still active over Kerala, coastal, south interior Karnataka and Telangana.
Not only that, according to the department, a new low pressure area is likely to develop over north Bay of Bengal tomorrow in wake of which heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over ghat areas of Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul and Tirunelveli districts.
On the other hand, relief and rehabilitation activities are taking place in both the States in full swing.
Due to heavy rainfall continuing in the catchment areas of the river Cauvery, the water inflow into Mettur Dam has increased from 1.72 to 1.78 lakh cusecs while outflow has been increased from 1.75 to 1.9 lakh cusecs.
This has led to Mukkombu receiving 2.34 lakh cusecs of water. Tamilnadu government today informed that over 8,000 people have been evacuated from flood-prone areas of the State including Madurai and Theni districts and have been rehabilitated in camps. Of this, in Namakkal alone, over 2,200 people have been rescued.
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is stated to visit Erode tomorrow to assess the flood situation there. He will also be handing over the relief materials to the flood-hit.
He has also sent Rs 1 crore worth medicines to Kerala on behalf of Tamilnadu government. The Chief Minister announced another Rs 5 crore relief for Kerala this morning considering the grave situation the State is in.
Earlier, MP Thambidurai said efforts have been taken to divert all the flood waters to the sea.
96 RELIEF CAMPS
So far, 8,410 people have been evacuated from their houses in Tamilnadu.
They were accommodated in 96 relief camps in Namakkal, Erode, Kanyakumari, Karur, Dharmapuri and Tiruchi districts.
Heavy rain warning has been issued to Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Theni, Dindigul and Tirunelveli districts
MODI IN KERALA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today visited flood-hit areas in Kerala and discussed the situation with Governor P Sathasivam and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Later, he also announced Rs 500 crore relief for the people there.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi today asked the Prime Minister to declare Kerala floods as a national disaster.
In a tweet, he said, ‘Dear PM, Please declare #Kerala floods a National Disaster without any delay. The lives, livelihood and future of millions of our people is at stake.’
