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Chennai, Oct 22 (IANS) Amid heavy rains caused by the northeast monsoon, the Tamil Nadu government has launched a massive relief operation in Chennai, deploying 24,149 personnel and setting up 215 relief camps and 106 community kitchens to assist affected residents, an official said on Wednesday.
According to an official release, Chief Minister MK Stalin has directed all district collectors to take proactive safety measures to avoid hardship to the public as rains continue in many parts of the state.
Following the onset of the Northeast Monsoon on October 16, the Chief Minister chaired a comprehensive review meeting at the State Emergency Operations Center in Chennai on October 19.
During the meeting, he directed officials to expedite preparedness measures, ensure timely evacuation of residents in low-lying and coastal areas and operate relief centers equipped with food, drinking water and medical care.
In Chennai, 215 relief camps have been set up to accommodate people evacuated from sensitive areas.
Along with this, 106 community kitchens have been set up to serve cooked food to people affected by water-logging and floods.
As of Wednesday, 68 of these kitchens were operational, providing breakfast to 1,46,950 people displaced or affected by the rains, the release said.
The Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC), which operates round the clock, is responding promptly to public complaints and emergency calls received through the helpline number, 1913.
To ensure quick relief and rescue operations, 22,000 employees of the Greater Chennai Corporation, including engineers, officials and sanitation workers, have been deployed.
They are supported by 2,149 field staff of the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, who are engaged in clearing water stagnation, operating motor pumps and maintaining storm water drainage in flood prone areas. Authorities have also deployed rescue equipment, boats and emergency vehicles at strategic locations across the city.
Officials said the government is on high alert and all departments have been directed to provide uninterrupted services and immediate assistance as rains continue across the region.
–IANS
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