Cyclone Michuang: CM M K Stalin seeks interim flood relief of Rs 5,060 cr from Centre

Residents from across Singara Chennai grappled with stagnant rain and sewage & power disruption in parts of the city and its suburbs areas on Wednesday, two days after Cyclone Michuang wreaked havoc in the city and neighbouring districts, even as civic agency personnel stepped up relief and rehabilitation efforts.

• Several parts of Chennai remain inundated under knee-deep water, relief efforts underway
• CM M K Stalin visits affected areas, distributes food & essentials to people put up at a relief camps set up by corporation
• Southern Railway announces cancellation of a number of services and diversion of many others

The cyclone-triggered heavy rainfall had led to inundation in localities, including Velachery,  Tambaram and many parts of north Chennai. On Wednesday too, people were seen leaving their homes in the areas surrounded with water to safer zones, carrying their children and wading through stagnant water. They called for help, including pressing more boats to ferry people to higher ground.

கொளத்தூர், திரு. வி.க.நகர் மற்றும் எழும்பூர் தொகுதிகளில் #CycloneMichaung பெருமழையால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள பகுதிகளில் நிவாரணப் பணிகளில் ஈடுபட்டேன்.

வெள்ளநீர் தேங்கியிருக்கும் நிலையில், மக்களின் பாதுகாப்பை உறுதிசெய்யவும், உயிரிழப்புகளைத் தடுக்கவும்தான் சில இடங்களில் மின்சாரம்… pic.twitter.com/KD2tSQTq4q

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 6, 2023

The Chief Minister visited some of the affected areas and distributed food and essential commodities to people put up at a relief centre in the city. He inspected activities undertaken by the city civic body to drain water.

He also wrote to the Centre seeking an interim flood relief of Rs 5,060 crore to tide over the situation.

Many users on social media site ‘X’ shared videos of residential localities still being surrounded by stagnant water, claiming many residents were stuck inside.

The hashtags #Velachery #CycloneMichuang was trending on the microblogging site.

A user lamented that her relatives were stuck in their home for the last three days without power, drinking water and milk.

Residents of north Chennai worst affected

Residents of north Chennai – Muthamizh Nagar, TNHB Housing Board, Kodungaiyur, Erukkenchery were surrounded by rain water mixed with sewage. There was no power supply since Sunday evening.

Road blockade near Moolakadai

Video Courtesy: Jai, Youtuber

Hundreds of residents indulged in road blockade on the Kolkatta Highway from Sharma Nagar to Moolakadai demanding restoration of power and water supply on Wednesday evening.

Jai, a youtuber and resident of an area near Erukkencherry told navjeevanexpress.com that the  residents of Parvathy Nagar, Ambedkar Colony nearby localities were inundated with rainwater and are sufferring without power and water supply for the past three days.

Officials including few peoples representatives rushed to the spot and pacified the agitating public and restored the traffic on the highway. Due to the road blockade agitation, the traffic on the national highway was affected for over an hour, Jai noted.

சென்னையில், பால் விநியோகத்தில் #Aavin பெரும்பங்கு வகித்தாலும், ஒட்டுமொத்த பால் விநியோகத்தில் பிற நிறுவனங்களின் பங்களிப்பும் உள்ளது.

வெள்ளம் சூழ்ந்திருக்கும் பகுதிகளில் பால் விநியோகம் சவாலாக இருப்பதால், அதை சீர்படுத்த, மாண்புமிகு தமிழக முதல்வர் @mkstalin அவர்கள் அறிவுறுத்தியபடி… pic.twitter.com/Ms74FYuMMQ

— Mano Thangaraj (@Manothangaraj) December 6, 2023

There were complaints of delay in supply of milk in many affected parts and residents alleged it was being sold for exhorbitant price. Power supply had not resumed in parts of the city.

#CycloneMichaung
Most of the arterial roads are now free from water stagnation, and our team is working hard to resolve water stagnation issues to bring back normalcy. We thank #Chennaiites for understanding and supporting us.

Removing slush & silt at Zone 6, Logo Scheme Road👇 pic.twitter.com/mfa77RPUg4

— Greater Chennai Corporation (@chennaicorp) December 6, 2023

The state government said relief activities were in full swing and that people in many of the affected areas were being rescued through inflatable boats even during the midnight.

Dear #Chennaiited
Here is the list of subways that are open/closed for traffic. Please plan your commute accordingly.#CycloneMichaung#ChennaiRain#ChennaiCorporation #HeretoServe pic.twitter.com/5nJj3tFH6Q

— Greater Chennai Corporation (@chennaicorp) December 6, 2023

Senior officials of the Greater Chennai Corporation were overseeing the rescue and relief activities, the civic agency said.

The Greater Chennai Police also announced helpline numbers for citizens to contact them for rescue and relief activities.

🌀 #Michaungcyclone
சென்னை பெருநகர காவல் ஆணையர் அவர்கள் வேளச்சேரி டான்சி நகரில் வெள்ளம் பாதித்த பகுதிகளுக்கு படகு மூலம் சென்று, பாதிக்கப்பபட்ட மக்களிடம் அவர்களின் தேவைகளைக் கேட்டறிந்தார்.

ட்ரோன் மூலம் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட மக்களை கண்டறிந்து உதவி தேவைப்படுவோருக்கு உடனடியாக உதவ… pic.twitter.com/18KMXpjsNc

— GREATER CHENNAI POLICE -GCP (@chennaipolice_) December 6, 2023

An update from the city police on Wednesday said six rain-related deaths were reported while many persons in need were rescued by the cops in different parts of the city. Among the rescued were senior citizens, pregnant women, and a woman and her newborn, an official release said.

Further, 11 subways in the metro remained closed for vehicular movement due to water-logging.

There were no disruptions in operations at the airport, while the Southern Railway announced cancellation of a number of services and diversion of many others.

Southern Railway

🚂✨ Attention, passengers! Details of train services scheduled to depart from Dr.MGR #Chennai on 06.12.2023 and their actual originating points.

For ready reference of #passengers !!#SouthernRailway pic.twitter.com/kWCALXwybE

— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) December 6, 2023

🚆✨ Departure Update: Chennai Egmore is back on track! 🌪️

After resilient efforts and swift restoration following the cyclone impact, following train services have been resumed and departing from #ChennaiEgmore Railway Station 🛤️#SouthernRailway #Chennai #trains pic.twitter.com/YCPXoJwQd1

— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) December 6, 2023

However, Southern Railway announced resumption of the suburban services on the Chennai Egmore-Chengalpet and Chennai Beach-Arakkonam routes with frequency of 30 and 45 minutes, respectively. Services on the Tiruvottiyur-Sullurpeta line will be operated on an hourly frequency, it said in an update.