Chennai rains: Corporates help flood-hit people

CHENNAI: Corporates continued relief efforts in flood-hit Chennai and neighbouring areas by offering services to affected people.

Several public and private sector banks are operating today, ensuring services were not affected in the city and its surrounding areas, following the record rainfall last week.

At least 245 people have died in rain-related incidents since October 1.

In a statement, the Indian Bank said it was operating its branches, ATMs and also deployed banking correspondents to reach out to flood victims.

"Indian Bank's 328 branches with 393 ATMs were operating in Chennai and nearby regions. It deployed 250 bankingcorrespondents in Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts," a statement said.

The bank's branches were also working in Cuddalore, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai districts, it said.

Korean auto-major Hyundai Motor India Foundation, the CSR division of Hyundai Motor India Ltd ( HMIL), delivered 11,000 food packets to the flood-relief team set up by the government over the last two days.

HMIL team visited some of the worst-hit areas and distributed clothes, blankets, towels. The relief measures would be on till December 15, it said.

Srinivasan Services Trust, the CSR arm of Sundaram Clayton and TVS Motor Company distributed over 1 lakh food packets and 50 tonnes of food to people affected in low lying areas.

About 100 employees undertook relief efforts and shifted 500 people to safer places, it said.

The company was coordinating with National Disaster Response Force teams, health officials of Chennai Corporation, and representatives of local bodies.

According to the state government, as many as 3,50,000 people have been rescued and moved to safer places since the commencement of the northeast monsoon on October 1.