Tamil Nadu rains: Sonia Gandhi urges Centre, state government to spare no effort in relief work

NEW DELHI: Congress President Sonia Gandhi today expressed distress at the damage caused by heavy rains in Tamil Nadu and asked the Centre and the state government to spare no effort in reaching food, shelter and relief to the affected people.

"I am deeply distressed to learn of the devastation caused by heavy rains in Tamil Nadu, particularly in the districts of Chennai, Cuddalore, Vizhupuram, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Nilgiri," she said in a statement here.

The heavy north-east Monsoon, she said, has caused a tragic loss of lives, devastated habitations, destroyed crops and disrupted transport, communications and other aspects of normal life.

"My heart goes out to the thousands of people affected, who have lost loved ones, whose homes have been flooded and livelihoods lost," she added.

Urging the Centre and state government to spare no effort in providing relief to the people of Tamil Nadu, Gandhi said that Congress and its workers were ready to help in this crisis in anyway they can.