Cyclone Vardah: Power supply will be restored in Chennai soon, Panneerselvam says

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam said on Monday night Tangedco has deployed 4,000 field staff to restore power which was disrupted by cyclone Vardah.

Though power would be restored very shortly in several parts of Chennai, it would take one or two days in North Chennai and in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts.

Adequate generators have been stocked to supply drinking water till then, the chief minister said in a statement.

Panneerselvam said he had deputed a team of six ministers to each of the rain-hit districts -- Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur -- to oversee the rehabilitation measures undertaken by the state machinery.

At least 100 earth movers and 275 chainsaw machines were put to use to remove 4,000 trees uprooted on Chennai roads. As many as 8,400 staffs, including engineers, road inspectors have been deployed for the task. Around 1,100 trees had been removed, he said.

Around 100 mobile medical camps were set up.

"I had a review meeting with senior bureaucrats, including chief secretary P Rama Mohana Rao and monitored the situation by speaking to senior officials and district collectors," Panneerselvam said, adding that 10,432 people had been evacuated to 97 relief centres in Chennai (26), Tiruvallur (31), Kancheepuram (40). Adequate arrangements were made to supply food, water, and mat to the inmates.

The chief minister extended condolences to the families of people who died in rain-related incidents. He announced Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased.