The Union Government has “declared” the Tamil Nadu floods as a “Calamity of Severe Nature”. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said: “The Centre has made the declaration as requested by her.” Jayalalithaa has directed her party MPs to allot Rs. 1 crore each for such works in the flood affected districts. The Chief Secretary has been asked to send the details of the reconstruction and rehabilitation works needed to be done in flood-affected districts of the state.

AIADMK has 37 members in the Lok Sabha while its strength in the Upper House is 14. The Chief Minister recalled that the northeast monsoon, which brings the bulk of Tamil Nadu’s annual rainfall, had set in late by October-end. However, heavy rains filled up reservoirs and lakes, following which excess water was discharged into rivers even as Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallore and Cuddalore were badly hit.

The state government said 347 persons had died and over 3,300 heads of cattle lost so far, but rehabilitation work had been taken up in full swing. Over 17.64 lakh people were rescued and sheltered in 6,605 relief centres across the state while over 1.28 crore food packets have been distributed, it was officially stated. An amount of Rs 67.47 crore has been disbursed among over 1.11 lakh families as immediate relief.