EPS and OPS urge Stalin to take immediate steps to prevent rain damage in Chennai

COIMBATORE: AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday urged the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate measures to mitigate the impact of rain and floods.
In a joint statement, the two leaders wanted the government to evacuate people living in vulnerable areas, provide them basic amenities and protect them from the vagaries of the extreme weather.
Though the Centre had warned states to take preventive measures, the current situation in and around Chennai had raised doubts if Tamil Nadu government’s precautionary steps remained only in papers, a joint statement by EPS and OPS said.
Realising the gravity of the situation, government machinery should act on a war footing to safeguard life, livelihood and properties of people, they said.
The two leaders urged the state government and Chennai Corporation to evacuate people living on the banks of the Cooum, the Adayar and the Buckingham canal as there was a high possibility of flooding in these water channels.
Evacuated people should be accommodated in safe places and given food, masks and medical help, they said.