Andhra Pradesh government offers help to rain-battered Tamil Nadu

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh government today assured Tamil Nadu that it would look into its demand of reducing the outflow from Pichatur and other dams in Chittoor district as the flow of water is likely to flood neighbouring Thiruvallur district.

"Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh I Y R Krishna Rao spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary to (TN) Chief Minister and offered all necessary assistance in view of the unprecedented rains and flooding in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Chennai," a state government release said.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary requested his AP counterpart if the outflow from the Pichatur and other dams in Chittoor district, neighbouring TN, can be reduced as the flow of water is likely to flood Thiruvallur district in Tamil Nadu, it said.

"Chief Secretary Tamil Nadu requested Krishna Rao, Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, whether there is possibility of reducing outsource of Pichatur dam and other dams in Chittoor district which are likely to flood Thiruvallur district within Tamil Nadu," it said.

The Andhra Pradesh government has assured Tamil Nadu that it will consider all help, the release added.

Unprecedented heavy rains and flooding, triggered by north east monsoon and a low pressure in Bay of Bengal, during the last several days heaped misery on several districts in Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai.

Several Andhra districts like Chittoor and Nellore, bordering Tamil Nadu, have also received heavy downpour in different spells since the last one month. The rains caused massive damage to crops, property and loss of human life.

Torrential rains in Chennai and its suburbs have submerged hundreds of homes and offices, bringing life to a halt.

The death toll in the rains that have lashed Chennai city and other parts of state has gone up to 197, officials said.