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Chennai, Apr 21 () The DMK on Tuesday demanded thatthe Tamil Nadu government waive electricity bill for 'rice'category ration card holders in view of the loss of incomeduring the lockdown and asserted that such a move alone wouldlend a helping hand to them.Days after AIADMK party units in districts, includingCoimbatore and Salem, said they would bear the cost of freefood in Amma Canteens in their regions, the main oppositionparty flayed the government for what it called "handing overon a platter," the State-run eateries to the ruling party in"every district" and alleged it was "very bad politics."DMK chief M K Stalin, in a statement here, asked theAIADMK to "not do politics" with Amma Canteens and insteadwanted the government to fund free food in the eateries sothat people could eat for free.The low cost State run canteen chain, run by local bodiesin Tamil Nadu, cater largely to the working classes and theindigent.The price of food, including idli and 'variety rice' likelemon rice, range between a Rupee and Rs five.The Dravidian party chief said people confined to theirhomes in view of the lockdown and deprived of even minimumincome would not be able to pay their electricity bills.Hence, he said, "waiving electricity bill for those withrice ration cards alone will be tantamount to lending a handof friendship for them by the government."Rice ration card holders receive rice for free and otheressential commodities like cooking oil and dhal at a highlysubsidised rate.The DMK leader also demanded that the Central governmentput on hold the collection of fee at toll plazas since takingcharges from vehicles transporting essential commodities maylead to rise in prices.Toll plazas reportedly started collecting fee from April20 after stopping it during the first phase of lockdown. Stalin also alleged that sanitary workers in KarurGovernment Hospital were pushed to "staging protest" sincethey had not received "one month salary" and added that onlytimely remittance of salaries could be a mark of gratitude tothem who put their lives at risk in the fight againstcoronavirus. VGNAPRRAVINDRANATH VGNAPRRAVINDRANATH

COVID-19: DMK demands power bill waiver, free food at Amma Canteens

V Gangadharan Chennai, Apr 26 () Started as a pioneering scheme to offer meals at highly subsidised prices, the Amma Canteens inTamil Nadu have turned out to be the saviour during theCOVID-19 national lockdown, helping all sections, includingguest workers, truck drivers and even the middle class. Though largely the working classes, including migrantworkers, and the indigent people, depend on Amma Canteens, apet scheme of late chief minister Jayalalithaa, now these havecome as a boon to several others who are feeling the pinch ofthe lockdown with pay cuts and loss of jobs.What'smore, the ruling AIADMK has started bearing thecost of the food served by the canteens in several cities andtowns, making it free for the customers.Of the 650 plus Amma Canteens, run by local bodies,scattered across the state, Chennai alone has 407, over twothirds, and dish out idlies for breakfast, variety rice forlunch and chapathis for dinner and have come in forappreciation for the quality. "I had a wrong impression previously that the food qualityhere is not good. But actually it is good and on par withother eateries. During these times of financial distress, AmmaCanteens are a boon," a young man, who lost his informationtechnology job a few months ago, said.The man turned up with tiffin boxes to take home food atthe city's Madipakkam locality where a large number of peoplethronged the canteen on Sunday, which also happened to be thefirst day of the four-day complete shutdown announced by thegovernment in major cities, including Chennai, to check spreadof the coronavirus.With the government announcing that all shops wouldremain closed during the four days, only the Amma Canteens,named so after Jayalalithaa, fondly called by her supportersas "Amma" (mother), were abuzz with activity.A variety of people such as truck drivers, guest workers,and also men and women from middle and upper middle classescould be seen arriving to eat or take food home as stafferswere busy cooking and cleaning up. As a mini-truck arrived at one such eatery in thesprawling but empty Madipakkam bus terminus on Sundayafternoon, the driver and another man got down from thevehicle hurriedly and walked up to the outlet and asked if"anything" was available to eat. When pat came the reply, "only sambar and curd rice rightnow" the duo was apparently relieved as it was not availableanywhere else.Usually, the Amma canteens do not offer take away but itis now allowed. A V Ganesan, a priest in a small local temple, said hewas happy that Amma canteens were open. "The LPG cylinder in my home has gone dry and this canteenis close to my home, and I can eat or take home food," hesaid.Free food was now a boon since many like him, who work intemples. have virtually no income, he added. In another locality, a couple of women and children, partof a group of street performers from Chattisgarh, are visuallyrelieved that the canteens are serving food free during thelockdown. "These are very tough times for us as there is no incomeand the canteens are no doubt a boon, it is a boon," a youngmother of two children said in a mixture of broken Tamil andHindi. In fact, it is a repeat of such scenes in several areas ofthe city and especially in north Chennai which has a sizablechunk of labour class population. At one such canteen in Vyasarpadi, people could be seenstanding in serpentine queues on Sunday, but maintainingsocial distancing. An Inter-Ministerial Central Team to assess the COVID-19situation in Tamil Nadu also visited a canteen on KamarajarSalai here. An official told that a special fund allocation of Rs19.54 crore has been made for Chennai Corporation AmmaCanteens and as a whole Rs 31.39 crore has been earmarked forall the eateries in the state. In Chennai alone 4.5 lakh people eat food at the canteensevery day while the rest of the state sees about 6.25 lakhfootfall. Since the start of the lockdown period, over 140.38 lakhidlis, 53.24 lakh rice items, and 37.85 lakh pieces ofchappathis have been distributed, benefiting about 85 lakhpeople, the official said.Launched by Jayalalithaa years ago, the canteens offeridlis at a cost of Rs one each, two pieces of roti at Rs 3,Pongal Rs 5 and rice varieties including sambar, lemon andcurd at Rs 5 a plate. Now the food is being offered free of cost with theAIADMK's local units footing the bill in major cities ofChennai, Salem and Coimbatore besides some other places inview of the lockdown.In Salem, the home district of Chief Minister KPalaniswami in western Tamil Nadu, eggs are being served freein addition to the regular menu, officials said.The state governments of Karnataka and Rajasthan hadlaunched Indira Canteens and Annapurna Rasoi respectivelyinspired by the Amma Canteens. Across Tamil Nadu, there are 658 Amma Canteens, includingaround 250 outside Chennai under 14 corporations and 121municipalities. VGNVS VS

From truck drivers to street performers, Amma Canteens prove to be a boon during lockdown in urban TN

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa passed away on Dec 5 at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. She died of cardiac arrest. 
 
Jayalalithaa was a favourite among people and fondly known as ‘Amma’. She was sworn in as chief minister for the sixth time on 23 May 2016. 
 During her tenure, Jayalalithaa announced a string of initiatives for the common man of Tamil Nadu. Jayalalithaa became popular when started ‘<keyword id="6423456" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="AMMA-canteen">amma canteen</keyword>’, giving idli for Rs 1, making it affordable for everyone in the state. 
 
Here are other measures that Jayalalithaa took for her people

These
were the 7 major initiatives taken by Jayalalithaa

As <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Cyclone+Vardah&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Cyclone Vardah</a> hit <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Chennai&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Chennai</a>, major IT players asked their employees to work from home. The whole city went under shutdown mode. Factories were mostly shut and there were few factories that opened early, but the workers to leave early. 
 
"More than 90% of IT companies in the city were not working. Even those who worked from home had difficulty as mobile and internet connectivity was poor," Nasscom VP K Purushothaman told TOI. 
 
Banks shut branches midday as the cyclone picked up speed. With mobile connectivity being poor and patchy, consumers found it difficult to pay via e-wallets. 
 The cyclone left the whole transportation in disarray. While 31 long-distance trains were cancelled, suburban services were suspended from 1pm and many more trains were stranded at locations outside <keyword id="12864" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chennai">Chennai</keyword>. 
 Sixteen trains were held up in the Jolarpettai-Chennai Central section and four trains in the Villupuram-Chennai Egmore section. Platforms on <keyword id="400523" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Chennai-Beach">Chennai Beach</keyword> and Central stations were badly damaged. Overhead cables snapped on the Chennai-Arakkonam sector, trees fell on the track at Perambur, Egmore and Chetpet, which delayed and later led to the suspension of services. 
 
Former chief minister <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=J.+Jayalalithaa&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">J. </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=J.+Jayalalithaa&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Jayalalithaa</a>’s walfare project- <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Amma+canteens+&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Amma canteens</a> did all that it could. They ensured that the city didn’t faced the cyclone with an emplty stomach. <keyword id="1676377" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amma-canteens">Amma canteens</keyword>, despite the category 5 storm, continued to serve food free of cost, as it has since the state went into mourning after Jayalalithaa's demise. When the city shut down on December 6 as a mark of respect to Jayalalithaa, of all the government's services, only the Amma canteens served up hot food to residents, especially homeless citizens. Best of all was that the needy did not even have to pay the nominal price that the canteens charge. Centralised canteens distribute food to most of the outlets. So the supply chain remained relatively unaffected at most of the 407 canteens in the city. In canteens not covered by the centralised network, the women who run them ensured that not one customer returned home on an empty stomach. Around 2 pm, after strong 
 
Passengers at Chennai Central were stranded without electricity as also cab and auto services, though food was available in the umpteen stalls. At around 1pm, bus services stopped and auto drivers began to charge a premium of at least Rs 100 above the meter rates. Suburban commuters were stranded at different stations en route. gusts of wind ravaged the area around the canteen, the women invited customers to grab plates of piping hot food.

This is what IT companies did when Chennai was completely shut due to Cyclone Vardah

Chennai, Aug 23 () People stayed indoors and roads were deserted as Tamil Nadu observed a complete lockdown on Sunday as part of efforts to fight COVID-19. While only healthcare services and milk supplies were operational, violators of norms in urban and semi-urban localities in districts including Kancheepuram, Pudukottai, and Virudhunagar were finedby local authorities. Vegetable, meat, and fish vendors were among those fined. Tamil Nadu police said a fine of Rs 21.26 crore has so far been levied across the state as on Sunday for violation of curbs and 6.88 lakh vehicles seized. The complete lockdown, effective since last month on all Sundays, saw closure of fuel pumps, markets and stores selling essential commodities while officials inspected their jurisdictional localities to check violations. Government-run TASMAC liquor outlets were also closed today like previous Sundays. Since today is a 'muhurtham' day considered auspicious, a number of couples tied the knot in front of temples, though they were closed down like a man and woman before the Sri Kolanjiappar temple at Virudhachalam in Cuddalore district. Cargo vehicles operated as usual while police put up barricades and set up checkposts across the State to check violations for effective implementation of the curbs. Amma Canteens and healthcare services -hospitals, pharmacies and labs- were open and sanitary workers went on with their clean up work. Personnel of civic bodies conducted door-to-door surveys to detect people with flu-like symptoms in addition to fever camps and disinfection tasks were not halted. VGN SS

TN observes intense lockdown, violators fined

With the risk of <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> spreading further in densely populated cities, <keyword id="20154" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword> Chief Minister K. <keyword id="6366644" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="palaniswami">Palaniswami</keyword> on Friday ordered tightening of the lockdown in Chennai, <keyword id="6361828" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Coimbatore">Coimbatore</keyword>, <keyword id="6517945" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tiruppur">Tiruppur</keyword>, <keyword id="6357470" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="salem">Salem</keyword> and <keyword id="6373821" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="madurai">Madurai</keyword>. The decision was taken after Palaniswami chaired a review meeting on the coronavirus spread in the state. In a statement issued here, Palaniswami said in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai the lockdown will be implemented strictly between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. from April 26-29. He said in the case of Tiruppur and Salem the lockdown will be between 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. from April 26-28. According to him, sanitisation of containment zones will be done twice a day in the state. He said only work from home is permitted for software companies and other private companies should not function in these five districts. The Chief Minister also ordered the closure of registration department <keyword id="47357" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="offices">offices</keyword> while allowing only the following to function: - Hospitals, diagnostic test labs, pharmacies, ambulance and hearse services; - Essential services departments in the state secretariat, health, revenue, disaster management, electricity, milk, water supply departments; - Other central and state government offices with 33 per cent staff strength; - Government run Amma Canteens, ATMs; - Old age homes and orphanages; - Community kitchens run by district/local administrations; - Service organisations for the benefit of poor with government permission and - Vegetable markets, mobile vegetable shops will run subject to regulations. On Friday, the death toll in Tamil Nadu due to Covid-19 went up to 21, with one senior citizen breathing her last in Madurai, said officials. --IANS vj/bg

Tamil Nadu government imposes stricter lockdown in Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Salem and Madurai from April 26

Chennai, May 13 () Tamil Nadu Chief Minister KPalaniswami on Wednesday indicated that the ongoing lockdowncould be lifted "gradually" and sought people's cooperation torestore normalcy post-lockdown.Listing his government's various steps to resume economicactivities, besides ensuring that the people did not sufferduring the lockdown, he also stressed people's cooperation wasimportant."People should extend total cooperation (to thegovernment).. following the kind of cooperation extended byyou, the lockdown can be withdrawn gradually," he said.The chief minister made the remarks at a review meetingof district collectors and other officials chaired by him totake stock of the Covid-19 prevention activites at theSecretariat here.Tamil Nadu is one of the worst affected states in thecountry vis-a-vis coronavirus, with the number of casesstanding in excess of 8,000.His statement also comes a day after Prime MinisterNarendra Modi said there will be a fourth phase of thelockdown, which will be very different from the earlier threephases.The third phase of the lockdown is scheduled to end onMay 17.Palaniswami further said his government's efforts haveresulted in people having access to essential items, even asit was reaching out to various sections of the society likeguest workers, destitutes and the poor through distribution ofdry ration as well as providing food through Amma Canteens andcommunity kitchens.Seeking to give a fillip to economic activities, thegovernment had set up a high-powered committee (under theChief Secretary) to attract businesses "moving out of certaincountries," he recalled.Further, due to the coordinated efforts of various armsof the government, including the medical professionals, thepandemic was under control, he said, adding Tamil Nadu hadthe lowest death rate of 0.67 percent while its discharge ratestood at 27 percent.Referring to the high spike in daily virus numbers inthe recent days, he attributed it to increased testing ofsamples.Experts have said that the pandemic will "slightly goup" before going on a declining trend, Palaniswami said,adding there was no need for the people to panic.The state had a total of 53 testing centres.Even those undergoing treatment in hospitals will soonreturn home and the government was with them, he added.As on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu has reported a total of8,718 coronavirus cases with 61 fatalities. SAROH ROH

Ongoing COVID-19 lockdown could be lifted 'gradually', says TN CM

<ul><li>The authorities said the lockdown will begin from June 23 and will last till June 30. </li><li>Essential activities will only be allowed between 6 am to 2 pm on weekdays. </li><li>Essential commodities shops like grocery stores and petrol bunks will be open from 6 am to 2 pm with stricter social distancing norms. </li></ul>Tamil Nadu government has enforced a seven days long complete lockdown in Madurai as the coronavirus cases continue to mount in the city. The authorities said the lockdown will begin from June 23 and will last till June 30. According to the statement, the whole city will remain shut on Sunday, and essential activities will only be allowed between 6 am to 2 pm on weekdays. “Complete lockdown in the jurisdiction of Madurai Corporation limits, Paravai Town Panchayat and rural blocks of Madurai East, Madurai west and Thiruparankundram from 23.06.2020 to 30.06.2020,” according to the statement. Here’s the list of activities permitted during the lockdown <ul><li>Hospitals, medical labs, pharmaceuticals shops, ambulance and medical services will be allowed during the lockdown.</li><li>All public transport like auto, taxi and buses won’t be allowed until being used for a medical emergency. However, transportation from the airport or railway station will be allowed after procuring e-pass from the authorities.</li><li>All state and central government offices in the city will work with 33% staff with an exception for essential services departments including health, police and other local bodies.</li><li>State government employees from the containment zones will be exempt from duty. However, prior approval is needed.</li><li>Banks are allowed to open with a maximum of 33% staff. All ATM’s and other banking services will continue normally.</li><li>The government has also allowed public distribution shops (PDS) to open from 8 am to 2 pm. However, the shop in the containment zones will remain shut, and the relief will be directly handed over to the families in need.</li><li>Essential commodities shops like grocery stores and petrol bunks will be open from 6 am to 2 pm with stricter social distancing norms. The residents will only be allowed to buy essential items within a kilometre from their residence.</li><li>Restaurants and hotels will be open from 6 am to 8 pm; however, only takeaways will be allowed.</li><li>The government has allowed operation of amma canteens and community kitchens during the lockdown.</li><li>NGOs and organisations planning to help the needy will need prior permission from the government.</li><li>It has also allowed operation of media, judiciary and construction workers for the next 7 days.</li><li>The government also said the e-pass would only be issued to people who are visiting other cities for marriage, funeral and other medical emergencies— subjected to documentation.</li><li>Companies involved in IT services will be permitted to function with only 5% of the regular staff, and for that, a list will be provided by the IT department.</li></ul>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/puri-jagannath-rath-yatra-will-be-held-this-year-despite-coronavirus-but-without-the-lakhs-of-devotees/articleshow/76505670.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra will be held this year despite coronavirus, but without the lakhs of devotees</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/fabiflu-covifor-cipremi-medicines-approved-to-treat-covid-19-patients-in-india/slidelist/76507980.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Fabiflu, Covifor, Cipremi and other drugs approved or under trial for COVID-19 patients in India</a>

What’s allowed and what isn’t as Madurai lockdown tightens for the next one week

The spread of COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu is "largely under control" due to the implementation of various government guidelines, but the contagion is "easily"spreading in this city due to its large population, Chief Minister <keyword id="4181111" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="K-Palaniswami">K Palaniswami</keyword> said on Wednesday. Palaniswami, who indicated resuming manufacturing in the Green Zones, also rued people not strictly following social distancing norms and urged the respective district administrations to ensure this principle is adhered to. Addressing a review meeting on <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus">Coronavirus</keyword> with District Collectors, he also patted the officials for leading the fight against the pandemic and said government's measures in stemming its spread has largely borne fruit due to their efforts. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="75442410" title="Coronavirus cases in India climb to 31,332— with Maharashtra and Delhi seeing a continuous rise" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> "Barring Chennai, the spread is largely under control in other districts," he said and credited the collectors for strictly enforcing various guidelines in the fight against the deadly virus. "Chennai is a big city. More people reside here. Further,many visit the city. Moreover, there are narrow streets where a large population lives and due to this, the virus easily spreads from one person to another. This is the reason for the increased spread of the disease here," he said. As on Tuesday, the state capital has the highest number of Covid-19 positive cases in the state, 673 out of the 2,058. Incidentally, of the 121 fresh cases reported on Tuesday, the city had 103 infections. Palaniswami said that irrespective of an area being acity or rural one, the pandemic can be controlled if the government guidelines were strictly implemented and lauded the Collectors for doing so with the aim of contolling the spread. The district heads were diligently implementing the government's various measures, including availability of essential commodities, even as the coordinated work of various departments like Health, Police and Revenue, among others, had helped prevent the spread, he said. However, social distancing was not being strictly followed by the people, especially in ration shops and vegetable markets and the officials should ensure it was duly followed, he said. Compared to the struggles of many developed nations and super powers, the state was ensuring better delivery of public services, including on the food front, he said. The flagship Amma Canteens, which are providing free meals to the needy and poor, was proof of this, even asmigrant workers living here, among others, were being taken good care of. The police should ensure nobody enters or exits a containment zone, he added. On resuming or starting businesses, Palaniswami said the government would advise Collectors accordingly on allowing such activities in the respective green zones. Those industries that could be given the green signal include cement, sugar, sago, steel and medical equipment, as allowed by the Centre, the Chief Minister added. Proper cleaning and maintenance of public toilets, strict implementation of all ongoing lockdown norms and keeping aneye on border districts were the other points stressed by Palaniswami as part of the virus control plan. Efforts should be to turn the Red zones in the state to Orange, while the latter should become Green and normalcy across the state should be ensured gradually, the Chief Minister told the officials. According to the government's virus hotspot categorisation, Red Zone denotes over 15 cases or those with a doubling time of less than four days while the Orange means districts with less than 15 infections. Green Zones are those with no new cases in the last 28days. As of April 28, <keyword id="784144" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Krishnagiri-district">Krishnagiri district</keyword> is the only GreenZone in Tamil Nadu, of the total 37 districts in the state. As many as seven are categorised as Orange, while therest, including Chennai, are listed as Red Zone. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/data-of-coronavirus-patients-state-wise-in-india/articleshow/74669748.cms">Coronavirus cases in India state wise</a>

Tamil Nadu CM K Palaniswami says COVID-19 is 'largely under control' in his state

(Eds: Recasts intro, adds details)Chennai, May 13 () Blaming reluctance of vegetablevendors of Koyambedu market here to move out as a major reasonfor the spread of COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister KPalaniswami on Wednesday indicated that the ongoing lockdowncould be lifted "gradually" depending on people's cooperation.He also attributed the high spike in daily virus numbersin the recent days to increased testing of samples and askedpeople not to panic, citing views of experts that the pandemicwill "slightly go up" before declining.As on Wednesday, Tamil Nadu has reported a total of 9,227coronavirus cases with 64 fatalities.The sprawling wholesale campus at Koyambedu has turnedout to be a super spreader of the coronavirus with the numberof positive cases in otherwise low prevalence districts likeCuddalore seeing a sharp rise in recent days after people fromthere travelled to the market.The market, which houses nearly 4,000 shops and employingaround 20,000, has since been closed and shifted to atemporary facility at the suburban Thirumazhisai.Palaniswami said the numbers in several districts hadgone up due to Koyambedu market which also contributed to thespike in this city, which tops the list with over 4,000 cases.Chairing a review meeting of district collectors andother officials to take stock of COVID-19 preventionactivitiesat the Secretariat here, he also said the state was bearingthe cost incurred on sending guest workers stranded in TamilNadu to their native states by special trains. In his opening remarks, he listed out his government'svarious efforts to ensure people did not suffer during thelockdown and had access to essential items. "People should extend total cooperation (to thegovernment).. depending on the kind of cooperation extended byyou, the lockdown can be withdrawn gradually," he said.Tamil Nadu is one of the worst affected states in thecountry by the deadly virus with the number of casesstanding in excess of 9,000.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Tuesday said therewill be a fourth phase of the lockdown, which will be verydifferent from the earlier three phases. The third isscheduled to end on May 17. Later, in his concluding address to the bureaucrats, thechief minister spoke in detail about the Koyambedu episode.He recalled that the first round of talks betweenofficials of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA)and market representatives was held as early as on March 19when they were asked to shift sighting the crowd, but they didnot accept the idea. Subsequent rounds of meetings were held between governmentand the representatives, some even chaired by his deputy OPanneerselvam to break the deadlock, but the vendors were firmon not moving out fearing losing business, Palaniswami said,adding even basic precautions like wearing masks was notadhered to by many there. "So, the government held many rounds of talks with thetraders. But ths issue (of spread) arose because they werefirm that shifting will affect their business," he said. "Now, because many from Koyambedu had travelled to otherdistricts, the number of infected there (in those places) hasgone up. This is the reason for the spike in cases in Chennaialso," he said.Finally, following a major spread, the market was closedwith the concurrence of the stakeholders and has beenfunctioning at Thirumazhisai from May 10, he said. On Chennai topping the list of positive cases, he said thedensity of population, especially in narrow alleys andstreets, was a significant contributing factor. Referring to sending back guest workers stranded in thestate, he said the Tamil Nadu government was footing the billinvolved in the operation of trains.While a large number of people have been sent home sofar, the others would also get their chance to return in thecoming days, based on availability of trains, he said andasked them to remain patient till then.Palaniswami also stressed on intensified testing of lorrydrivers and workers entering Tamil Nadu from other states.He said efforts by his government have resulted in peoplehaving access to essential items while it was also reachingout to various sections of the society like guest workers,destitutes and the poor through distribution of dry ration aswell as providing food through Amma Canteens and communitykitchens. Seeking to give a fillip to economic activities, thegovernment had set up a high-powered committee (under theChief Secretary) to attract businesses "moving out of certaincountries," he recalled and pointed out at the resumption ofvarious industries to benefit the working class. Further, due to the coordinated efforts of various arms ofthe government, including the medical professionals, thepandemic was under control, he said, adding Tamil Nadu hadthe lowest death rate of 0.67 per cent while its dischargerate stood at 27 percent.Even those undergoing treatment in hospitals will soonreturn home and the government was with them, he added. VS VS

Lockdown to be eased gradually depending on cooperation of people: TN CM

It's raining cats and dogs in Chennai. Three days on, schools remain shut, train and air services halted, telephone connectivity majorly hit as one of the worst rain havocs has left Chennai submerged bringing it to a complete standstill. IAF, Air Force, NDRF, Coast Guard are all on the ground here braving the most horrifying torrential <keyword id="13672" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rains">rains</keyword> the city has seen in the last 10 years, to steer people out of danger, yet thousands of residents lay trapped in their homes without essentials like food and water to survive. 
 
Chennai Corporation which had claimed to be ready to face such a situation after MeT’s pre warning in Sept, tried to clear water in over 300 localities all across the city, but it hardly helped. Following an increase in water levels, the civic body rescued 1,900 people on Sunday, housing them in shelters in safer locations. Food packets for residents were supplied through 81 Amma Canteens, seven community kitchens and five community halls, however, all of them have been hit hard by floods forcing them to stop the supply. 
 
With life coming to a grinding halt, the death toll rising, people carrying their essentials and walking in neck-deep water all on their own in remote areas to reach safer locations, and the agencies finding it difficult to contain the damage from floods, this is the worst Chennai has seen in a long time. It recorded 246.5 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours which breaks the record of November 2005 of 142.4 mm. 
 The heavy downpour is giving the disaster relief teams a very tough time in carrying out <keyword id="6388465" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rescue-operations">rescue operations</keyword>. Only “22 people, including 12 infants, were airlifted by the IAF from affected areas yesterday because due to constant rains, only six sorties were carried out," an IAF statement said. This is not to say that ample efforts are not being made. Air Force choppers are being used to air-drop food and drinking water in worst-hit areas. The army is using boats to rescue stranded people in many flooded areas. Even <keyword id="6354720" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ola">Ola</keyword> is using boats to ferry people from submerged areas to safe locations. National Disaster Response Force teams are extending help to state officials in evacuations. People are also being evacuated from Kotturpuram in central Chennai as release of water from the Sembarambakkam reservoir is expected to cause more flooding in the area. But despite a pre alarm and on ground operations, 71 people have already died and several remain trapped. 
 
Notably, unlike the north-east monsoons in the previous years, what makes this year’s rains different is that it was neither a depression nor a cyclone, but a low pressure that played havoc with people’s lives. This low pressure system formed near Sri Lanka right over the Bay of Bengal crossed near the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast resulting in heavy rain and consequent flood in many parts of the state. Cuddalore and Tambaram districts are the worst hit, where many streets are completely submerged and nearly 2000 residents are trapped in their homes. 
 
Meanwhile, even as the heavy downpour has eased a bit and is now showing signs of receding, the horror is not over yet. The MeT has warned of heavy to very rainfall in Tiruvallur districts even as moderate rains are expected to continue for another three days in other areas. It means the death toll is likely to rise further as the killer rains now head towards Andhra Pradesh. 
 
(Image credit: Indiatimes)

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