Rains claim 39 lives in TN; abates in city

Chennai, Oct 30 (UNI) The incessant rains, which claimed 39 lives in Tamil Nadu, abated in the city and suburbs today, but several parts of the capital were still submerged in water, crippling normal life.

Normal life was thrown out a member of residential areas were submerged, virtually keeping the people indoors.

Velachery, Madipakkam and Thoraipakkam in the South and Kolathur, Ambattur, Vyasarpadi and Pulianthope, Otteri and Perambur in North Chennai bore the brunt of the rain. People were seen wading through knee and hip deep water to reach their water-logged residences.

School and college students heaved a sigh of relief as the state government declared a holiday for them.

Chennai Corporation's new Mayor M Subramanian, accompanied by officials visited rain-hit areas and speeded up relief measures.

People living in low lying areas were evacuated to safer places and provided food packets, he said. About 20,000 people were still accommodated in schools and marriage halls.

However, the rains were a blessing in disguise in another sense as they have helped contain the mosquito menace, which was causing chikungunya and dengue fever. The rains also brought copious inflow into the city reservoirs in Red Hills, Poondi and Cholavaram.

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