The Defence PRO on Wednesday shared visuals of Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters air-dropping essentials to the residents of buildings isolated due to the heavy downpour in Chennai. The videos that went viral on the internet revealed the intensity of rains and floods caused by Cyclone Michaung in Tamil Nadu's capital city.
The viral video showed aerial visuals of an IAF Chetak helicopter hovering over an building that remains half-submerged in flood waters. Stranded residents were seen standing on the terrace as the helicopter slowly got to them.Several other buildings in the vicinity were also seen immersed in the flood waters.
"Air Force Station, Tambaram provided 400 Kg of food material to ‘cut off’ areas in Chennai #CycloneMichaung continuing yesterday’s relief work.
Four Chetak helicopters dropped food items in two stretches:
1. Medavakkam to Puzhudivakkam
2. Manali Petro Chemicals to Nappalayam," the post by the verified account 'Defence PRO Chennai' on X (formerly Twitter) said.
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO HERE:
Air Force Station, Tambaram provided 400 Kg of food material to ‘cut off’ areas in Chennai #CycloneMichaung continuing yesterday’s relief work.
— Defence PRO Chennai (@Def_PRO_Chennai) December 6, 2023
Four Chetak helicopters dropped food items in two stretches:
1. Medavakkam to Puzhudivakkam
2. Manali Petro Chemicals to Nappalayam. pic.twitter.com/Jkqs8RbiUk
Chennai rains: Latest updates
Residents grappled with stagnant water and power disruption in parts of the city and its suburbs on Wednesday, two days after Cyclone 'Michaung' wreaked havoc.
Air Force Station, Tambaram provided 400 Kg of food material to ‘cut off’ areas in Chennai #CycloneMichaung continuing yesterday’s relief work.
— Defence PRO Chennai (@Def_PRO_Chennai) December 6, 2023
Four Chetak helicopters dropped food items in two stretches:
1. Medavakkam to Puzhudivakkam
2. Manali Petro Chemicals to Nappalayam. pic.twitter.com/Jkqs8RbiUk
The government said power was kept suspended in some areas as a "preventive measure" as the cables were under water while asserting all efforts were being taken to restore normalcy.
Another day's holiday was declared for schools and colleges in Chennai on December 7.
The cyclone-triggered heavy rainfall had led to inundation in localities including Velachery and Tambaram. On Wednesday too, people were seen leaving their homes in the areas surrounded with water to safer zones, carrying their children and wading through the stagnant water. They called for help, including pressing more boats to ferry people to higher ground.
Chief Minister M K Stalin visited some of the affected areas and distributed food and essential commodities to people put up at a relief centre in the city. He inspected activities undertaken by the city civic body to drain water.
He also wrote to the Centre seeking an interim flood relief of Rs 5,060 crore to tide over the situation.
