CHENNAI: Chief minister M K Stalin on Tuesday held a meeting with district collectors and monitoring officers to assess rainfall preparedness.
This comes in the wake of the meteorology department's forecast of very heavy rainfall in several districts, including Mayiladuthurai, Villupuram, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, and Cuddalore. The state govt has pre-positioned disaster response teams and mobilised first responders and volunteers.
Following instructions from the chief minister, the state govt deployed one SDRF and one NDRF team each in Thiruvarur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, and Cuddalore. Two NDRF teams are stationed in Thanjavur.
“The CM directed the officials to keep ready the relief camps with all facilities, to bring people from the low-lying areas to relief camps in advance during heavy rains, to take adequate measures to prevent floodwaters from damaging the crop and to ensure uninterrupted power supply,” said an official release.
Fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea. Most boats have returned to shore, while those further out were contacted and directed to the nearest harbours.
The state and district emergency operation centres are operating continuously. These centres are staffed by personnel from multiple govt departments.
District administrators have confirmed the readiness of relief camps, multi-disciplinary teams, medical teams, and necessary equipment. This equipment includes earth movers, boats, generators, tree cutters, and motor pumps.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran, Chief Secretary N Muruganandam, and heads of various departments participated in the preparedness review.
These include health, revenue and disaster management, rural development, water resources, municipal administration and water supply, the Greater Chennai Corporation, and Tangedco.