Cyclone fury claims seven more lives, Death toll reaches 15

Chennai: The toll in rain-related incidents in Chennai city rose to 15, with seven

more deaths reported during the last 24 hours till 1400 hrs on Wednesday, a police release

said.

It said seven people died in various incidents and more than 5,000 people were rescued from Cyclone

hit areas in the city and shifted to relief centres.

Apart from this, 10 more people were admitted to various hospitals after they suffered

injuries in various incidents of drowing and electrocution across the city during the period.

A total of 11 subways in the city still remained shut for the third successive day due to water logging.

The release said a total of 2,246 trees (South Zone – 268, East Zone – 213, West Zone – 1635 and

North Zone – 160) have fallen on roads at various places across Greater Chennai Police limits and were removed by the officials and civic staff along with the other departments.

It said seven more deaths were reported till 1400 hrs today, taking the toll to 15, after police said

eight people died in rain-related incidents yesterday.

It said one Dhamodharan (M/40) of Old Washermenpet in North Chennai was found dead in rainwater

stagnated in his house, while a 64-year-old man, identified as Perumal, who was bedridden in his house died due to drowning at his house in Mylapore area of the city.

A 48-year-old cop identified as Rukmangathan and attached to the ICF police station, was found dead in rainwater near Asprin Garden at Secretariat Colony police limits. Police rushed to the spot and shifted the body to Government Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) hospital.

While an unidentified person aged about 35 was found dead at Tondiarpet in North Chennai and his body was sent to Government Stanley Hospital, a retired official of traffic police department–Samikannu (85)–was found dead at his house due to drowning in suburban Madipakkam, where several houses were engulfed with heavy rain water, and the body was shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH).

Another death was reported from Madipakkam where an unidentified person, aged about 55, was found dead nd the body sent to RGGGH.

The seventh death was reported today afternoon. An unknown person aged about 35 was found dead in stagnated rainwater at Bharathipuram Main Road, coming under Aminjikarai PS limits and the body was sent to KMC Hospital.

The release said since December four on Monday, a total 1,419 distress calls have been received on the requirement of rescue measures, food, water, shelter, vehicle, transport and medical assistance at GCP Control Rooms and all the calls were attended by the GCP Team/concerned jurisdiction officers promptly and grievances redressed.

Meanwhile, police sources said rescue operations are being conducted in suburban areas like Velachery, Madipakkam, Ram Nagar, Tansi Nagar, AGS Colony, Girija Nagar, Manapakkam, Bethel Nagar, BRN Garden, Stanley Nagar, Pencil Factory, Slaterpuram, Ganesapuram, MGR Nagar, etc and more than 5,000 people have been rescued so far.