<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/30982990.cms" /> With so many highway movies doing the rounds, sojourning from city to city and state to state feels like a romantic prelude to a long <keyword id="6374782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="journey">journey</keyword> of self-discovery – till reality strikes. And just like a movie, the reality can be multilayered – varying from bad roads to gasping traffic and minimal road safety. But we promised you relief from those travelling conditions the next time we return with our <keyword id="2053047" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Open-roads">Open Roads</keyword> series. And here we are, with more information about a whole new bunch of <keyword id="2074695" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Intracity-and-inter-city-expressways">intracity and inter-city expressways</keyword> that not only reduce <keyword id="4251245" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Commute-time">commute time</keyword> but also reshape a country’s landscape, <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword> and way of life. In the last slideshow of this series, the journey begins from the <keyword id="44875" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="West-coast">west coast</keyword> and goes down south. 
 As we have mentioned before, expressways are limited-access roads designed for high-speed traffic. The economic impact of an <keyword id="2074705" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Expressway-network">expressway network</keyword> criss-crossing the country is all too obvious and the <keyword id="6404450" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ministry-of-Road-Transport-and-Highways">Ministry of Road Transport and Highways</keyword> (MoRTH) has already recommended a total <keyword id="2074707" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="E-way-network">e-way network</keyword> of about 18,637 km in the country. Development work is being done in three phases and is scheduled to be completed by 2022. During the Interim Budget, <keyword id="6355261" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Finance-minister">Finance Minister</keyword> <keyword id="43940" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="P-Chidambaram">P Chidambaram</keyword> also told the Parliament the road network in the country witnessed over sevenfold increase at 3.89 lakh km over the past decade. 
 Does that mean we may soon see an <keyword id="2074709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="E-way-ecosystem">e-way ecosystem</keyword> similar to the interstate system in the US? Given the obstacles in terms of <keyword id="6364579" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Land-acquisition">land acquisition</keyword>, <keyword id="414903" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="fund-crunch">fund crunch</keyword> and <keyword id="2074714" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Slow-implementation">slow implementation</keyword>, it’s definitely going to take some time. Meanwhile, hop into the driver’s seat and go off exploring some super-fast roads you have not travelled yet. After all, it’s a journey with no end… and wheels will always need roads. 
 
Image: Thinkstock Photos/Getty Images

Be It Intracity Or
Inter-city, These 5 Expressways Make Travelling A Breeze

A dozen people lost their lives in various rain-related incidents in and around the city while personnel on fishing boats and farm tractors were engaged in rescuing stranded people on Tuesday. The city and adjoining districts faced relentless <keyword id="13672" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rains" source="Orion">rains</keyword> on Monday as the severe cyclonic storm Michaung loomed over the north coastal areas of Tamil Nadu. Eleven others, who sustained injuries in rain-related incidents, were receiving treatment in various hospitals, officials said. Several District Disaster Response Teams (DDRT) were formed to carry out relief work in all rain-affected areas across the city. In Muthialpet locality in the city's outskirts, 54 families were rescued, and a woman who had just given birth was relocated to a safer place from Saligramam in the city. More than 250 people from low-lying areas found refuge at a school camp in Kotturpuram. Additionally, 22 passengers stranded after their local bus got stuck in rainwater, were transferred to a relief camp set up at the Middle School in Pallavaram. Since Tuesday morning, most parts of <keyword id="12864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chennai" source="Orion">Chennai</keyword> experienced a respite from rains, allowing officials to focus on rescue and relief operations in affected areas. During a press conference at the Chennai Corporation headquarters on Tuesday morning, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin stated that relief measures were being undertaken on a war footing. Stalin mentioned that across the nine affected districts, including Chennai, a total of 61,666 relief camps were established. Approximately 11 lakh food packets and one lakh milk packets have been distributed so far, he said. The Chennai Corporation has brought in 5000 workers from other districts for flood mitigation works in the city. These workers utilised farm tractors and fishing boats in flooded areas such as Periamet and other parts of north Chennai for rescue operations and distributing relief materials. Residents in areas like suburban Tambaram, Ashok Nagar, Kattupakkam, and Perungudi complained about the lack of power restoration despite the rain ceasing for several hours. Mukesh Chordia, a resident of Ashok Nagar, mentioned that although water had receded from the main roads in the area, power supply had not been restored. Press Trust of India (PTI) Chennai's Deputy News Editor Annie Thomas residing in Koymabedu near the city's main outstation bus terminus said, "Last time (2015), after three days of being stuck due to waterlogging, we waded out in thigh-level water and stayed in serviced apartment for a day, then at a friend's place for two days." Thomas added, "This time our apartment complex is once again surrounded by water. We are on the second floor. There is no power supply and I am conserving the charge on my phone as much as possible. I don't know how long tap water supply will last." Chief Minister M K Stalin informed reporters that the power situation was being restored in phases. He noted that the handling of the situation was far better compared to the 2015 <keyword id="48088" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="floods" source="Orion">floods</keyword> when the AIADMK was in power. Stalin pointed out that the 2015 floods were caused by an unplanned release of one lakh cusecs from the Chembarambakkam reservoir in the city's outskirts into the Adyar river, leading to man-made floods. He said that the current situation, natural floods caused by torrential rains, was efficiently managed by the state. He explained that during the current spell of rains, only a maximum of 8,000 cusecs of water was released into the Adyar and Cooum rivers from the Chembarambakkam reservoir in a planned manner. Among the 12 people who lost their lives in rain-related incidents were a 60-year-old woman in Foreshore Estate and a 48-year-old man who worked as a head constable at the Integral Coach Factory police station, according to an official release. Further detailing the DDRT's measures, the official release mentioned the rescue of three individuals trapped when a makeshift generator room collapsed due to heavy rains. Additionally, three members of a family were safely evacuated after their house was submerged in water in Adyar. The release also noted the closure of nearly 16 subways due to inundation and the removal of fallen trees at 60 locations. Meanwhile, Minister for Milk and Dairy Development T Mano Thangaraj stated that the production of five lakh milk units at the Ambattur dairy of Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Ltd, popularly known as 'AAVIN,' was affected as the factory was completely submerged due to rainfall. Thangaraj added that the AAVIN diaries in Sholinganallur and Madhavaram were operating at full capacity, supplying milk to Chennai from factories located in other districts. He assured, "A sufficient amount of milk and milk products are available," while urging retail outlets to cooperate in distributing milk to consumers.

Death toll rises to 12; Boats and tractors used in rescue efforts in rain-hit Chennai

<ul><li>Over two dozen farmer organisations have announced support for the 'Bandh call' on Friday to protest against the Farm Bills</li><li>The Congress, which is protesting against the Farm Bills passed by the Parliament, has chalked out a detailed programme of agitation. </li><li>The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), an ally of the BJP-led NDA government, announced a statewide 'chakka jam' to mark their protest.</li></ul>The three farmer' bill and labour reform bill will not be implemented in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Panwar on September 25 said This comes as hundreds of farmers across the country began their <keyword id="187037" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nationwide-strike">nationwide strike</keyword> against the Modi government’s three farm bills passed during <keyword id="2901275" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-monsoon-session">the Monsoon session</keyword>. Over two dozen farmer organisations have announced support for the 'Bandh call' on Friday to protest against the Farm Bills passed by Parliament amid protests by 18 political parties. The 31 farmer organisations in Punjab and Haryana are already protesting. Delhi Police are on high alert and have made preparations to seal the border with Haryana. The Congress, which is also protesting against the Farm Bills passed by the Parliament, has chalked out a detailed programme of agitation, which will begin on September 26 with an online "Speak up for Farmers" campaign. The Congress has decided to take out marches in every state, after which memorandums will be submitted to the respective governors on September 28 against these farm bills. Punjab and Haryana at the centre of farmer’s protest As many as 31 farmer organisations have joined hands for the 'Punjab Bandh'. Several organisations in Haryana, including the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), said they had extended support to the nationwide strike called by some farmers' bodies against the bills. Farmers in Punjab and Haryana will go on a strike today in protest against the contentious farm bills that were passed in the Parliament. Heavy police force has been deployed in both states to deal with any untoward situation. Even shopkeepers in most of the major towns in both the states shut their shops, expressing solidarity with the farmers. In Punjab, several trains have been suspended since September 24 as farmers began a three-day 'rail roko' campaign against the Bills. On September 24, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said he is ready to lead the political fight against the three anti-farmer bills passed in Parliament. The chief minister urged all political parties to rise above petty considerations and come on one platform to unitedly fight against the bills, which he said will destroy farmers. His remarks come a day ahead of the Punjab bandh announced by several farmer groups against the bills. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), an ally of the BJP-led NDA government, announced a statewide 'chakka jam' to mark their protest. The SAD has been a longstanding ally of the ruling BJP. SAD's Lok Sabha MP and Sukhbir Badal's wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal, had resigned from the Union Cabinet on September 17, citing her party's opposition to the three Bills. In Tamil Nadu, members of some farmer organisations protested in Trichy and Tambaram on Friday morning. Led by Tamil Nadu Farmers' Association President P Ayyakannu, half-clad farmers held their protest outside the Collectorate in Trichy while carrying human skulls in their hands. They demanded that the Bills should not be made into law. Whereas, in Karnataka, members of the Karnataka State Farmers' Association on Friday held protests at various places against the three farm Bills passed in Parliament, which however has elicited a lukewarm response so far. Although the farmers begun a blockade since morning to register their protests at highways entry points in Bengaluru, it received a lukewarm response as vehicular movement in CBD areas was not affected much. Parliament has passed three farm reform bills -- the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, Farmer's Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill -- in the Monsoon Session. (with inputs from IANS) <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/accentures-q4-earnings-miss-estimate-with-low-growth-likely-to-continue-for-two-more-quarters/articleshow/78307937.cms">Accenture's Q4 earnings miss estimate with low growth likely to continue for two more quarters</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/elections/news/bihar-election-2020-ec-to-announce-bihar-assembly-poll-dates-today/articleshow/78308174.cms">Bihar Election 2020: EC to announce Bihar assembly poll dates today</a>

Farm bills won't be implemented in Maharashtra, says Ajit Pawar

(Eds: Correcting headline) Bhubaneswar, Apr 10 () Amid spurt in COVID-19 cases, the Odisha government has procured a substantialnumberof test kits and other materials as part of its measures toensure speedy detection of coronavirus infections in thestate, official sources said on Friday.Kits for conducting at least 4,000 tests, reagents andvirus transportation mediums (VTMs) were airlifted from Mumbaion Thursday as the government stepped up its drive to enhanceCOVID-19 testing facilities in the state, an official said.The kits will give a considerable boost to the statespreparedness to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, he said."#COVID 19 test kits for 4,000 tests, reagents &amp; VTMswere airlifted from Mumbai through special air cargo. It willstrengthen #Odisha Governments efforts to ramp up the#coronavirus testing facilities in the state, the healthdepartment tweeted.The arrival of the kits was significant as Odisha isnow all set to start coronavirus testing at three morelocations in addition to the four existing test facilities inthe state, he said.The aim is to put in place adequate capacities soonto conduct at least 1,000 tests for COVID-19 daily, thesenior official said.The state government has also decided to start testsfor COVID-19 at MKCG Medical College Hospital in Berhampurfrom April 12, at VIMSAR in Burla from April 15 and at IGH inRourkela from April 17.The tests are now being conducted in RMRC, AIIMS andInstitute of Life Sciences (ILC) in Bhubaneswar and SCBMedical College and Hospital in Cuttack, the official said.The three new testing facilities will ensure speedydetection in western and southern parts of the state, he said.The fresh kits were received barely two days after3,500 kg of medical equipment from ICMR was airlifted by anIndian Air Force aircraft from Tambaram for the establishmentof medical labs and other facilities in the state.Besides, the state government is all set to purchaseICMR recognised COVID-19 rapid testing kits.One lakh rapid testing kits will be purchased soon sothat more COVID-19 tests can be conducted, the official said.The Odisha government, which has extended the lockdowntill April 30 to curb the spread of COVID-19, also aims atsetting up around 34 dedicated hospitals exclusively forCOVID-19 patients with over 6,000 beds, he said.So far several COVID-19 hospitals with a capacity ofaround 1,600 beds have been made operational in the state.The focus at present is on ensuring adequate stock of masks,particularly special N-95 masks, personnel protectionequipment (PPE) and testing kits, he said, adding that thestate has sufficient stock to meet the requirements.To meet the manpower requirements, the stategovernment has trained 1,500 persons, including MBBS students,postgraduate students, serving doctors and master trainers,for district hospitals for the treatment of COVID-19 patients,the official said.It has also been decided to engage 1,620 AYUSHpersonnel, including doctors, postgraduates and undergraduatestudents, for combating COVID-19 and its management in thestate, he said.Similarly, 360 districts and 2,264 block-level mastertrainers have been trained to handle COVID-19 patients.To meet the expenses required for preventive measuresagainst COVID-19 and treatment of patients, the Odishagovernment on Thursday increased the corpus of its contingencyfund five times from Rs 400 crore to Rs 2,000 crore.Odisha has so far reported 48 COVID-19 cases.The disease has claimed one life so far, while twoothers have been cured and discharged. SKN SBNSBN SBN

Kits to conduct 4,000 tests for COVID-19 reach Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Apr 10 () Amid spurt in COVID-19cases, the Odisha government has procured a substantial numberof test kits and other materials as part of its measures toensure speedy detection of coronavirus infections in thestate, official sources said on Friday.Kits for conducting at least 4,000 tests, reagents andvirus transportation mediums (VTMs) were airlifted from Mumbaion Thursday as the government stepped up its drive to enhanceCOVID-19 testing facilities in the state, an official said.The kits will give a considerable boost to the statespreparedness to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, he said."#COVID 19 test kits for 4,000 tests, reagents &amp; VTMswere airlifted from Mumbai through special air cargo. It willstrengthen #Odisha Governments efforts to ramp up the#coronavirus testing facilities in the state, the healthdepartment tweeted.The arrival of the kits was significant as Odisha isnow all set to start coronavirus testing at three morelocations in addition to the four existing test facilities inthe state, he said.The aim is to put in place adequate capacities soonto conduct at least 1,000 tests for COVID-19 daily, thesenior official said.The state government has also decided to start testsfor COVID-19 at MKCG Medical College Hospital in Berhampurfrom April 12, at VIMSAR in Burla from April 15 and at IGH inRourkela from April 17.The tests are now being conducted in RMRC, AIIMS andInstitute of Life Sciences (ILC) in Bhubaneswar and SCBMedical College and Hospital in Cuttack, the official said.The three new testing facilities will ensure speedydetection in western and southern parts of the state, he said.The fresh kits were received barely two days after3,500 kg of medical equipment from ICMR was airlifted by anIndian Air Force aircraft from Tambaram for the establishmentof medical labs and other facilities in the state.Besides, the state government is all set to purchaseICMR recognised COVID-19 rapid testing kits.One lakh rapid testing kits will be purchased soon sothat more COVID-19 tests can be conducted, the official said.The Odisha government, which has extended the lockdowntill April 30 to curb the spread of COVID-19, also aims atsetting up around 34 dedicated hospitals exclusively forCOVID-19 patients with over 6,000 beds, he said.So far several COVID-19 hospitals with a capacity ofaround 1,600 beds have been made operational in the state.The focus at present is on ensuring adequate stock of masks,particularly special N-95 masks, personnel protectionequipment (PPE) and testing kits, he said, adding that thestate has sufficient stock to meet the requirements.To meet the manpower requirements, the stategovernment has trained 1,500 persons, including MBBS students,postgraduate students, serving doctors and master trainers,for district hospitals for the treatment of COVID-19 patients,the official said.It has also been decided to engage 1,620 AYUSHpersonnel, including doctors, postgraduates and undergraduatestudents, for combating COVID-19 and its management in thestate, he said.Similarly, 360 districts and 2,264 block-level mastertrainers have been trained to handle COVID-19 patients.To meet the expenses required for preventive measuresagainst COVID-19 and treatment of patients, the Odishagovernment on Thursday increased the corpus of its contingencyfund five times from Rs 400 crore to Rs 2,000 crore.Odisha has so far reported 48 COVID-19 cases.The disease has claimed one life so far, while twoothers have been cured and discharged. SKNSBN SBN

Kits to conduct 4,000 tests for COVID-19 reaches Odisha

DMK is winning in 133 constituencies in Tamil Nadu — here’s a full list of winners

Chennai, June 19 () With a global race on to find a cure for the deadly coronavirus, teams of Siddha doctors in Tamil Nadu who dug deep into the traditional system of medicine have found 'kabasura kudineer' a herbal concoction to be effective in managing COVID-19 cases. At least two research papers in Siddha, including one after the novel Coronavirus began to spread in Tamil Nadu in early March this year, claim kabasura kudineer is effective in managing the COVID-19 positive persons. Kabasura kudineer is a herbal concoction, comprising dry ingredients of ginger, pippali, clove, cirukancori root, mulli root, kadukkai, ajwain and many other herbs. The ingredients are powdered and mixed with water, then boiled to make a decoction of one-fourth of its initial volume. Incidentally, the Tamil Nadu government has also been promoting its consumption to boost immunity, although it has made it clear that it is not a medicine to treat COVID-19. A study on two groups of COVID-19 positive cases both primary and secondary contacts, numbering 84 in nearby Vellore claim the study may be taken as a preliminary evidence of the protection offered by the herbal drink and its prophylactic effect in high risk COVID-19 cases. The study by Dr V Vikramkumar, Assistant Medical Officer (Siddha), Tirupattur district, S Ganesh, Director, Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy in Tamil Nadu,M P Sivanarul, Tirupattur District Collector, P Parthiban, Joint Director, Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy, Tamil Nadu, and others was conducted in April. It found that those who received kabasura kudineer intervention tested negative for COVID-19 on April 6, 2020 and those not administered the herbal concoction tested positive. From the chisquare test analysis and graphical interpretation it emerged that there is an association between the intake of the concoction and the patients' health status, according to the study. Kabasura kudineer was distributed to 42 patients in quarantine facility at Agraharam in Tirupattur district. At another facility in Jamiya College of Ambur taluk in the same district, Kabasura kudineer intervention was not resorted to for the subjects. They were quarantined on April 1, 2020 and special attention was given to both groups. No home-made food was given to them, but only that prepared and given by a supervision team. For the treatment group, 60 ml of the concoction was administered daily after food to adults and 15 ml to children for 14 days. Both groups comprised 42 patients each and their ages ranged between 3 and 70 years. All patients were quarantined on April 1 2020. A five-year-old male child in this group got relieved from dry cough after drinking four doses of kabasura kudineer under adult supervision. Further, 10 patients got immediate relief from mild tiredness after the intake. No adverse effects were reported, according to the study. Swabs for PCR for six cases (direct positive contact) on April 6 showed negative. Repeat sample tests on April 20 also showed negative results. Secondary contacts tested on April 11, too, were negative. However they didnt develop any symptoms and no repeat tests were done. In the control group all the cases were tested on April 6 and five primary contacts out of 42 tested positive and the others negative. After 14 days quarantine period all others (secondary contacts) were out of symptoms and therefore no second testing was done for these cases. Immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic was first reported from Wuhan, China, in December 2019, a team of Siddha doctors took up research on kabasura kudineer and Thonthasura Kudineer-- the two Siddha formulations used against fevers due to respiratory infections. Siddha medicine classifies disease and disorders into 4,448 types and has remedies for more than 64 types of fevers. In a paper published in the Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Health Care in January this year, K Pitchiah Kumar, State Licensing Authority, Directorate of Indian Medicine, Government of Tamil Nadu, K Meenakshi Sundaram, Sanjeev Biomedical Research Centre and M S Ramasamy, through their study, demonstrated kabasura kudineer could be a potential Siddha medicine for COVID-19, provided further preclinical and clinical confirmatory studies were conducted. Kabasura kudineer contained more active phyto constituents, the higher activity than in Thontha sura kudineer was observed, in the study on silico evidence for Corona Viral Drug. Meanwhile, two pilot studies conducted in May and June 2020 by the National Institute of Siddha, Tambaram, here and SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre on the herbal concoction revealed that 99 per cent COVID-19 cases turned negative within five days. COR SA APR RAVINDRANATH APR RAVINDRANATH

Siddha research papers throw light on efficacy of 'Kabasura kudineer' in managing COVID-19

Tamil Nadu state assembly election 2021: Winning candidates across all constituencies

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/49541454.cms" /> More than 500 Air Warriors were inducted in the <keyword id="15141" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force">Indian Air Force</keyword> as part of the major changes that <keyword id="6355075" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="IAF">IAF</keyword> is going through in its operational philosophy. 

	At a Combined Passing-out Parade at Air Force Station, Tambaram on October 23, 2015, 548 Air Warriors were inducted into IAF, a Defence release today said. 
 

	"The Air Warriors went through a rigorous and intensive training curriculum at the two premier institutes of the base, namely, the Mechanical Training Institute and the Workshop Training Institute, before passing out," it said. 
 <keyword id="3114416" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Air-Vice-Marshal-AK-Gupta">Air Vice Marshal AK Gupta</keyword>, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Eng B), who reviewed the parade, said that with the induction of the state-of-the-art aircraft, equipment and weapon system, IAF was witnessing major changes in operational philosophy, it said. 

	IAF today was on the path of transforming itself into a strategic force of great calibre, he was quoted as saying. 
 

	He urged the Air Warriors to make sustained efforts towards continuous enhancement of their technical knowledge and skills by keeping themselves abreast with the latest changes besides asking them to maintain exemplary conduct at all times, it added. 

	 
	 
	(Image credits: Indiatimes)

548 Air warriors inducted into IAF

DMK is poised to make a comeback in Tamil Nadu after a decade with the MK-Stalin led alliance in the lead

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/49817398.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" />It's raining cats and dogs in Chennai. Three days on, schools remain shut, train and air services halted, telephone connectivity majorly hit as one of the worst rain havocs has left Chennai submerged bringing it to a complete standstill. IAF, Air Force, NDRF, Coast Guard are all on the ground here braving the most horrifying torrential <keyword id="13672" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rains">rains</keyword> the city has seen in the last 10 years, to steer people out of danger, yet thousands of residents lay trapped in their homes without essentials like food and water to survive. 
 
Chennai Corporation which had claimed to be ready to face such a situation after MeT’s pre warning in Sept, tried to clear water in over 300 localities all across the city, but it hardly helped. Following an increase in water levels, the civic body rescued 1,900 people on Sunday, housing them in shelters in safer locations. Food packets for residents were supplied through 81 Amma Canteens, seven community kitchens and five community halls, however, all of them have been hit hard by floods forcing them to stop the supply. 
 
With life coming to a grinding halt, the death toll rising, people carrying their essentials and walking in neck-deep water all on their own in remote areas to reach safer locations, and the agencies finding it difficult to contain the damage from floods, this is the worst Chennai has seen in a long time. It recorded 246.5 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours which breaks the record of November 2005 of 142.4 mm. 
 The heavy downpour is giving the disaster relief teams a very tough time in carrying out <keyword id="6388465" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rescue-operations">rescue operations</keyword>. Only “22 people, including 12 infants, were airlifted by the IAF from affected areas yesterday because due to constant rains, only six sorties were carried out," an IAF statement said. This is not to say that ample efforts are not being made. Air Force choppers are being used to air-drop food and drinking water in worst-hit areas. The army is using boats to rescue stranded people in many flooded areas. Even <keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> is using boats to ferry people from submerged areas to safe locations. National Disaster Response Force teams are extending help to state officials in evacuations. People are also being evacuated from Kotturpuram in central Chennai as release of water from the Sembarambakkam reservoir is expected to cause more flooding in the area. But despite a pre alarm and on ground operations, 71 people have already died and several remain trapped. 
 
Notably, unlike the north-east monsoons in the previous years, what makes this year’s rains different is that it was neither a depression nor a cyclone, but a low pressure that played havoc with people’s lives. This low pressure system formed near Sri Lanka right over the Bay of Bengal crossed near the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast resulting in heavy rain and consequent flood in many parts of the state. Cuddalore and Tambaram districts are the worst hit, where many streets are completely submerged and nearly 2000 residents are trapped in their homes. 
 
Meanwhile, even as the heavy downpour has eased a bit and is now showing signs of receding, the horror is not over yet. The MeT has warned of heavy to very rainfall in Tiruvallur districts even as moderate rains are expected to continue for another three days in other areas. It means the death toll is likely to rise further as the killer rains now head towards Andhra Pradesh. 
 
(Image credit: Indiatimes)

You Searched For "Tambaram" and got 11 results

Be It Intracity Or Inter-city, These 5 Expressways Make Travelling A Breeze

Sanghamitra Mandal

Death toll rises to 12; Boats and tractors used in rescue efforts in rain-hit Chennai

PTI

Farm bills won't be implemented in Maharashtra, says Ajit Pawar

BI India Bureau

Kits to conduct 4,000 tests for COVID-19 reach Odisha

PTI

Kits to conduct 4,000 tests for COVID-19 reaches Odisha

PTI

DMK is winning in 133 constituencies in Tamil Nadu — here’s a full list of winners

BI India Bureau

Siddha research papers throw light on efficacy of 'Kabasura kudineer' in managing COVID-19

PTI

Tamil Nadu state assembly election 2021: Winning candidates across all constituencies

BI India Bureau

548 Air warriors inducted into IAF

BI India Bureau

DMK is poised to make a comeback in Tamil Nadu after a decade with the MK-Stalin led alliance in the lead

BI India Bureau

As IAF choppers airlift stranded people, here’s why Chennai will never forget its worst rain havoc in the last 10 years

Anushree Singh