Pregnant Woman Describes Lack of Help in Flooded Chennai Locality
More than 30 hours have passed since cyclonic storm “Michaung” brought heavy rainfall to coastal Tamil Nadu, causing flooding in several low-lying areas of Chennai. Despite the passage of time, residents in these areas are still struggling to find safety.
In Velachery, a neighborhood in south Chennai, locals are wading through knee-deep water, anxiously awaiting boats to evacuate them from their inundated homes. Among those rescued is a pregnant woman, who managed to escape with her family. However, she expressed her disappointment with the lack of support from authorities to assist the locals in leaving the area.
Speaking to NDTV, the pregnant woman said, “There is nobody to help us here. If someone can assist, they should prioritize helping the elderly. The boats available are very small and unsafe. I would like to request the government to send larger boats so that people can be rescued.”
She added, “The immediate concern is providing food and electricity. Currently, there is insufficient support.”
Residents are facing long wait times to be transported by boats. “We had to wait for two to three hours today until we got a boat. There were no boats for us yesterday,” another local resident shared.
Authorities have deployed approximately 300 boats and have requested reinforcement from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). These boats are now reaching out to communities in low-lying areas, according to officials.
In addition, the Chief Minister has written to the Centre, seeking interim flood relief aid of Rs 5,060 crore. The situation has also sparked concerns about the supply of essential items, such as milk, in affected areas. Residents in Velachery and Tambaram have complained about delays and inflated prices.
Furthermore, a water pipeline leak has caused damage to the bridge across the Adyar River, resulting in restricted traffic flow with only one side open for heavy vehicles.
These floods in Chennai bring back distressing memories of the 2015 deluge, which claimed the lives of over 200 people.
