Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed to release a financial package of Rs 939.63 crore to the rain-battered state of Tamil Nadu to undertake immediate flood relief works. A central team is also being deputed to the affected areas in the state to assess the extent of damages. A release from the Union Government says further action will be taken after the submission of the report by the team.
Earlier, the Chief Minister of the state J.Jayalalithaa sought an on-account allocation of Rs 2000 crore to sustain the relief and rehabilitation works. In her memorandum submitted to the centre today, she has said the total damage due to the unprecedented rain in the recent history in the state has been worked out to be Rs 8481 crore. 169 people lost their lives due to the North East Monsoon that dislocated over 4 lakh people from their houses.
The central offer came within hours of submission of the report from Tamil Nadu Government seeking financial assistance. In her memorandum to the Centre submitted this morning, Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa has said Chennai witnessed the heaviest monthly average rainfall this month since the last 100 years and Cuddalore got whipped up by an unprecedented 437 millimeter rain on a single day on 9th of this month, leading to great challenges. Her request to send a central team to the state has also been conceded by the Union Government.