Water Level Recedes in Parts of Chennai, Hardships Continue

Chennai, Dec 4 (IANS) Life is limping back to normalcy in a few parts of Chennai as rains have stopped and the water level has begun to recede. But, in water-logged areas, the people's misery continues.

Some shops opened in Mylapore and Teynampet, while electricity supply was restored wherever possible. Most areas were without power.

Skeletal public transport was operational since Friday morning in areas where inundation has gone down. Autorickshaws were available and plying, but harried commuters complained of overcharging by drivers.

Many areas in Chennai still remain under water and supplies of essential commodities have been difficult to come by, said residents.

"Waterlogging continues to be there. The only mercy was that there were no rains," said Viswanath, a resident.

The water flow in Adyar river has come down as has the quantum of surplus water released into the river from the Chembarambakkam lake.

The Southern Railway has announced special trains to Tirunelveli, Rameswaram and Howrah from Chennai Beach station.

However, communication lines -- landlines and mobile connections -- continued to be disrupted.

In heavily flooded areas like Mudichur and Tambaram, people are looking up to the skies and praying for the rains to stop - and for relief materials.

The heaviest rains in a century and the resultant floods have left 269 people dead in Tamil Nadu.

Chennai has seen extensive waterlogging, with water gushing into homes, causing misery and acute problems to residents.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday undertook an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas and then announced Rs.1,000 crore as immediate relief to the state.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has described the situation in Chennai and three other districts as "alarming".