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Chennai, Oct 19 (IANS) With the Indian Meteorological Department predicting heavy rains on October 22 and 23, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has stepped up monsoon preparations by almost doubling the number of flood relief centers across the city – from 116 to 215, officials said on Sunday.
The move has been taken as a precautionary measure to prevent a repeat of the devastating floods that hit the city in 2021 and again in December 2023, which claimed more than 40 lives and displaced thousands.
According to civic officials, all 215 relief centers have been equipped with diesel generator sets to ensure uninterrupted power supply even during severe weather conditions.
“This year, GCC has installed gensets in all the relief centres. We have also made arrangements to provide mats, blankets, mosquito coils and food to residents who may have to take shelter,” said a senior corporation official.
The civic body has also set up 106 dedicated cooking centers to provide free food.
Residents have been urged to contact the GCC helpline ‘1913’ to locate the nearest relief center within their area.
Details of all the centers and contact numbers of the officers in charge will also be made available on the official website of the Corporation.
Larger places like the Government Higher Secondary School on Rajiv Gandhi Salai in Sholinganallur can accommodate up to 3,000 residents.
Prominent public places including Pitti Thyagaraya Hall in T. Nagar and Amma Arangam in Shenoy Nagar as well as several private schools and auditoriums have been converted into temporary shelters.
Among major centres, Meenakshi School in TVS Colony (Ward 89) can accommodate 110 residents; Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School, TNHB 7th Block (Ward 91) can accommodate 300 residents; St. Antony’s School in Pallikaranai (Ward 189) can accommodate 500 residents; Thanthai Periyar Government Higher Secondary School at Puzhuthivakkam (Ward 186) 300 residents; and St. Francis Xavier High School in Saidapet (Ward 169) 550 residents.
Additionally, Chennai Higher Secondary School (Ward 172) in Velachery can shelter 1,000 residents; Annai Velankanni College in Saidapet has 900 residents; Infant Jesus Matriculation School in Guindy has 200 residents; Akshata Mahal in Nerkundram shelter with 150 residents; and Seethalakshmi Thirumana Mandapam at Maduravoyal with 400 residents.
Meanwhile, temporary work is underway to connect missing links in the city’s stormwater drainage network – a long-standing problem that has exacerbated flooding in low-lying areas during the last monsoon.
Officials said the preventive measures are aimed at ensuring that Chennai does not face a repeat of the large-scale flooding and damage caused in previous years.
–IANS
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