A major problem that the Centre is grappling with is how send the men and machinery to Chennai that has been totally cut off and is left with no functional air, rail or road links.
Besides 15 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams that have already been pressed in action, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) decided to move 7 more teams of NDRF – three from Bhubaneswar and four from Delhi – for deployment in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
In addition to the four columns of Army, another three columns have been asked to move from Bangalore. Indian Air Force has already deployed two MI-17 choppers at Tambaram and two MI-17 are being moved from Tirupati to Chennai for relief/rescue operations. Five Chetak helicopters are also operating from Tambaram. In addition, four 04 MI-17 (02 at Bangalore and 02 at Nagpur) are on standby, the government said.
A major problem that the Centre is grappling with is how send the men and machinery to Chennai that has been totally cut off and is left with no functional air, rail or road links.
Desperate to step up efforts, the Centre has decided to make use of air fields of Arakkonam, Tirupati, Tambaram and Trichy for rescue and relief operations. Ministries of Railways and Civil Aviation were asked to coordinate with the state government for safe and quick evacuation of stranded passengers.
Ministry of defence has been asked to augment state government's resources and press Navy and Coast Guard personnel into rescue operations. In view of the IMD forecast further rains, departments and ministries concerned with Emergency Response have been instructed to be in state of total readiness and be in constant touch with Tamil Nadu.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has been given the task to coordinate all the relief activities on behalf of the Centre and affected people can reach its four digits Toll Free Helpline Number 1078.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh who reviewed the situation in evening meeting with defence minister Manohar Parrikar, commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman and his junior minister Kiren Rijiju is expected to make a statement in both the houses of parliament on Thursday.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "NDRF")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}