Narendra Modi lands in Chennai to take stock, more rains predicted in next 48 hours

Airport almost completely submerged; airport authority says it is likely to be closed until Sunday...

New Delhi

: The heaviest rainfall in more than 100 years has devastated swathes of Tamil Nadu, killing 269 with thousands forced to leave their submerged homes and schools and offices shut.

While the downpour eased early Thursday, the Indian Meteorological Department has predicted more heavy rain in several parts of the state through the rest of the week.

Separately, flood waters released from a lake on the outskirts of state capital Chennai have inundated more neighbourhoods.

An aerial view of Chennai shows low lying neighbourhoods as well the city's airport almost completely submerged. The Airport Authority of India says the airport is likely to be closed until Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tamil Nadu on Thursday to take stock of the situation. He landed at the Arrakonam Naval Air Station and will undertake an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas, official sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at INS Rajali in Arakkonam. #ChennaiFloods pic.twitter.com/wm4bc5jdEv

— ANI (@ANI_news) December 3, 2015

Before getting on the plane to Tamil Nadu Modi had tweeted, -"Leaving for Chennai to take stock of the situation arising due to the devastating floods.-"

Leaving for Chennai to take stock of the situation arising due to the devastating floods.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 3, 2015

The Centre has described the situation in Chennai as -"worrisome-" and promised all possible support to the state government in the hour of crisis. Modi had earlier spoken to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to promise all possible support. Home Minister Rajnath Singh told Lok Sabha that 40 per cent of telephone and mobile connections were not working in the state.

For the first time in over 40 years, the water has risen rapidly on the river breaching the road and the Maraimalai Adigal bridge in Saidapet cutting the arterial Anna Salai (Mount Road), rendering it out of bounds for motorists.

The Centre said it was making -"all possible efforts-" to provide succour and relief to the people of rain battered Chennai and other areas in Tamil Nadu.

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said the central government was in touch with the state government and the Union Home Secretary was continuously monitoring the situation in affected areas.

-"I have spoken to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. Centre is providing all assistance and will continue to help. Naval and Army forces have been mobilised and we have arranged helicopters but we can fly them in only after the situation improves. We are trying to reach wherever possible,-" he told reporters outside Parliament.

The Union Urban Development Minister said the Chennai airport was shut and public transport heavily affected.

-"People have left their homes, power supply has been halted as a precautionary measure and schools closed... it is not a good situation. The government is making all possible effort to provide help to the poor and the middle class... I appreciate that the residents of Chennai are helping each other,-" he said.

Rains abated in Chennai on Thursday giving relief to people tormented by the heavy downpour of the last three days but excessive discharge of water last night from Chembarambakkam lake on the outskirts flooded new areas of the city threatening to uproot people from their homes.

The fresh flooding of the streets in the heart of the city in areas like Kodambakkam and T. Nagar and Ashok Nagar has been caused by the release of an estimated 30,000 cusecs of water from the Chembarambakkam lake, one of city's source of drinking water.

For the first time in over 40 years, water has risen rapidly on the Adyar river breaching the road and the Maraimalai Adigal bridge in Saidapet. Water has cut off the arterial Anna Salai Road, rendering it out of bounds for motorists.