In some respite for Chennai residents after days of heavy rains, there has been no rainfall since Monday night. But the Met department has predicted heavy rains in Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday as well.
So far, 71 people have died in rain related cases.
Meanwhile, massive rescue operations have been put in place. Over 50,000 people have been sheltered in relief camps across the city. The Indian Air Force airlifted 22 people, including 12 infants, from rainwater-inundated parts of the city.
IAF officials said the evacuation was done from Ashok Nagar and another adjoining area of the city. They also airdropped 100 litres of water and 150 food packets.
On Monday, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa announced allocation of Rs 500 crore towards relief and rehabilitation.
Jayalalithaa had last week announced enhanching compensation to families of those killed in rain-related incidents from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh, besides relief for injured and death of cattle and poultry.
In a statement, the Chief Minister said she had directed officials to further expedite relief and rehabilitation measures in the wake of the government announcing the Rs 500 crore relief package.
The government was implementing relief and rehabilitation measures on a war-footing in neighbouring Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram areas, she said.
As regards Kancheepuram district, also severely affected,a 160-member NDRF team, three
from the State Disaster Response Force, were assisting the district administration.
Normal life has been hit in Tamil Nadu as incessant rains led to inundation of large areas and authorities have shut down educational institutions. The weather office forecast heavy downpour in the next three days in the state, Puducherry and coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Several parts of Andhra Pradesh also witnessed heavy rains. Normalcy has been thrown out of gear in Vijaywada, Chittor and Rayalseema as well. The cities of Hyderabad and Bengaluru have also been receiving moderate rainfall.