Chennai: After two relatively rain-free days, Chennai and its suburbs on Wednesday received showers in the morning, but normal life was not affected.
Different areas in Chennai saw light showers in the morning and the weather office forecast cloudy skies with occasional spells of rain in the city.
The focus in the city and its neighbourhoods continued on the rehabilitation of affected citizens even as more volunteers, including actors such as R. Parthipan, Arya and Karthi, and nongovernment organisations (NGOs) joined the aid efforts, mainly ensuring a supply of food and water.
The state government said a dedicated cell at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was receiving aid meant for flood victims. Those willing to help people could deposit the aid there and it would be distributed by officials of the Corporation of Chennai, who have already begun work, it said.
Meanwhile, domestic and international flights resumed operations. They were on schedule, officials said.
However, inclement weather for a while forced diversion of two flights, both private carriers, from Mumbai and Kolkata, and a cargo service to Bengaluru, they added.
Also, after a week of deluge that paralysed operations, restaurants and other eateries inside the airport were opened on Wednesday, officials said.
Meanwhile, delta districts continued to receive copious rainfall, with Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam topping the list with 22cm, according to rainfall statistics available until 8.30am. Other delta districts including Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Pudukottai also received good rainfall, the weather office said.
Political party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday visited flood-affected areas in Chennai, including Saidapet.
In Cuddalore, which had also faced the monsoon fury, normality was yet to return.
Over a hundred-thousand people were still staying in 183 relief camps across the district, Cuddalore Collector S. Sureshkumar said. More than 3,75,000 food packets are being distributed daily even as 180 Army personnel, including doctors from the force, are camping in Cuddalore and Bhuvanagiri, he said.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) members were also staying put at Neyveli in the district. Also, 200,000 hectares of samba paddy crops were submerged in Chidambaram, Kattumannarkoil and Kurinjipadi taluks in the district, officials said.
The Cuddalore-Chidambaram and Chennai-Kumbakonam roads have been closed for transport after being severely damaged due to rains, they added.
At Tirunelveli, the flood threat from Tamirabarani river receded following reduced inflows, officials said.
The inflow had reduced from 30,000 cusecs on Tuesday to 7,000 on Wednesday even as the situation in many parts of the southern districts improved.
There was no rain in the catchment areas of various dams in Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts, they said.
In Tirunelveli and Tuticorin, which had seen severe inundation last week, the stagnant water was receding, officials said.
Educational institutions resumed work on Wednesday.
All 11 dams in Tirunelveli had reached full level due to the heavy rains in the past few days.
The Mullaiperiyar Dam in Idukki district in Kerala, whose storage capacity stood at 43 metres against the full level of 43.2 metres was in good condition, officials said. The reservoir caters to five districts of Tamil Nadu.
The storage in Vaigai Dam in Madurai touched 19.7 metres, bringing hopes to farmers of raising an additional crop this year.
Fishermen in Rameswaram did not venture out into the sea for the eighth consecutive day due to rough seas. Schools in Pudukottai district were closed on Wednesday on account of continued downpour.
