Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa today in wake of devastating floods in the state, announced a relief package of Rs. 1000 crores.
He said that the declared amount is over and above the Rs. 940 crores which was released earlier.
“I have seen the damage and misery caused by extremely heavy rainfall. The government of India stands by the people of Tamil Nadu in their hour of need. I have directed Rs. 1000 crores to be released immediately by the government of India to Tamil Nadu for immediate relief. This is over and above the Rs. 940 crores which was released earlier,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Modi earlier in the day arrived in Chennai to take stock of the situation arising out of incessant rains in coastal parts of Tamil Nadu over the last few weeks. He also conducted an aerial survey of the flood affected areas.
In the last 24-hours, Chennai has received 345 mm of rain, which is highest ever for a single day in the last 114 years.
According to the Home Ministry, 269 people have lost their lives due to the calamity in the state so far.
Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi earlier today chaired a crisis meet to take stock of the situation in Tamil Nadu and review relief efforts. The meeting was attended by several top officials of the government including Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General L.S. Rathore and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General O. P. Singh. (ANI)