Chennai floods: NDRF to rush about 600 personnel to the city

The NDRF is rushing about 600 personnel and over 40 inflatable boats to be deployed in relief and rescue operations in rain-battered Chennai.  

As the Chennai airport and nearby landing facilities are shut down, 15 teams airlifted from Bhubaneswar and Delhi by the IAF, will be landing at the 'INS Rajali' airbase in Arakkonam, about 60 km west of Chennai, National Disaster Response Force chief OP Singh. The teams will be fanning out immediately to various places in Chennai on the instructions of local authorities even as the force has stationed two DIG Rank officers and a Commanding Officer to over see these operations, he said.

Singh said the teams will be also be carrying some relief material with them so that people who cannot be evacuated could be replenished with essential items. The nearest NDRF unit at Arakkonam has been put on alert and if required more teams will be pressed in from here, he said. The force has also activated two helpline numbers at its control room here--011-24363260, 09711077372.

He added about 11 teams, comprising 40 personnel in each, are already working in the Chennai region for relief and rescue operations.