Chennai, Oct 14 (UNI) As the Met office has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall, the
Tamil Nadu government on Monday declared a holiday for schools and colleges in
Chennai and three neighbouring districts tomorrow.
Chief Minister M K Stalin issued orders declaring holiday for schools and colleges
in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram an Chengalpattu districts after chairing a
review meeting on monsoon preparedness with higher government and police officials
at the State Secretariat.
While the Met office has issued Orange alert for these districts and also in interior
districts tomorrow, and Red Alert for Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram an Chengalpattu
districts on Wednesday when extremely heavy rainfall, in excess of 20 cm, has been
forecast by the weather office.
The expected heavy rains under the influence of a Low Pressure area over the Bay which
would intensify further and move towards North Tamil Nadu, will signal the onset of the
Northeast monsoon in the State and in the Southern Peninsular India.
With the entire state government and the district administrations bracing up to meet the
Northeast monsoon, the Chief Minister also asked IT firms to advise their employees to
Work from Home for the next four days from tomorrow.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Stalin directed the officials to deploy adequate NDRF and
SDRF teams in vulnerable areas in advance, besides keeping adequate boats in these
areas to rescue people in the event of floods.
He also asked the Officers in charge of districts to reach their designated districts and
coordinate monsoon preparation with the respective district administrations on flood
relief works.
The State government, which had been holding periodic review meetings, has geared
up its machinery to face the heavy Northeast Monsoon rains.
Since Chennai is expected to receive more than 20 cms of rain, Mr Stalin also reviewed
the precautionary arrangements put in place, including deployment of NDRF and SDRF
personnel.
The government announced that helplines were opened and the Modern Control
Room here will function round the clock with 150 staff in four shifts.
A total of 13,000 NGO volunteers are also in a state of preparedness to assist
the government
Stating that safeguarding the lives of the people and their property was the main
priority of the ruling DMK, the government said using various weather samples all
the areas, which were prone to flood, were being monitored continuously and
necessary instructions were given to the Electricity, Revenue, Police and Fire
Services and other departments.
Relief Centres with all basic amenities were also readied to house people evacuated
from low-lying areas.
Mr Stalin, who is also the President of the ruling DMK, has directed all the party
functionaries to be prepared to engage in relief works and help the people.
UNI GV 1725