In the wake of Cyclone Michaung wreaking havoc on the coastal city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin asserted that the state’s stormwater drain projects played a pivotal role in averting a catastrophe akin to the devastating 2015 Chennai floods.
Following an on-ground assessment of the aftermath, Stalin, flanked by state ministers, addressed the media, comparing the recent deluge triggered by Michaung to the catastrophic events of eight years ago. “The rains during Cyclone Michaung exceeded those in 2015. However, unlike the man-made crisis in 2015 due to the release of water from Chembarambakkam Lake, the current situation is a natural flood. The damage is comparatively less than that of the previous floods,” Stalin remarked.
#WATCH | மிக்ஜாம் புயலை எதிர்கொள்ள தமிழ்நாடு அரசு மேற்கொண்ட நடவடிக்கைகளை பட்டியலிட்ட முதலமைச்சர் மு.க.ஸ்டாலின்#SunNews | #ChennaiRains | #CyloneMichaung | #MKStalin | @mkstalin pic.twitter.com/e8kcNpsnoB
— Sun News (@sunnewstamil) December 5, 2023
Speaking at a press conference, the Chief Minister attributed the lesser impact of the recent floods to the stormwater drain projects initiated by the DMK government. He emphasized that these projects played a crucial role in mitigating the potential severity of the situation, allowing Chennai to escape a more catastrophic fate.
AIADMK MP M Thambidurai took a swipe at the ruling government, accusing them of failing to implement adequate precautionary measures. “The people of Chennai are suffering. This shows the ineffectiveness of the current government and their failure to tackle the situation,” Thambidurai asserted.
In response to Stalin’s claims, netizens took to social media platforms, flooding the internet with tweets highlighting the severity of the current Chennai floods.
“This is Velachery area in Chennai. Still now water is not draining. What about that 4000-crore package oopies??” asked a netizen, pointing out the failure of DMK.
🏫 This is Velachery area in chennai..
🌊 Still now water is not draining..
🤑 What about that 4000 crore package upis ??
🧔Senior citizen explains how he suffering…#ChennaiRainspic.twitter.com/7BYEBzsB2Z
— Madhu 🚀 (@mattmurock123) December 5, 2023
Another had tweeted, “The chief minister’s situation in the Ripon building”.
ரிப்பன் பில்டிங்கில் முதல்வர் நிலைமை.
Meanwhile Paid Kaikooli UPs be like : இயல்பு நிலைக்கு இவ்வளவு வேகமாக திரும்பயதில் திமுகவின் பங்கு அளப்பறியது. #DMKFailsTN #4000கோடி_என்னாச்சு #மிதக்கும்_4000கோடி pic.twitter.com/EboZGfsF8X
— Parameswaran Samiappan (@ParamesPollachi) December 5, 2023
The netizen shared a video saying, “In Velachery, which was worst hit by floods due to Cyclone Michaung, the teacher lashed out at ministers Subramani, Nehru and Udhayanidhi for not carrying out rescue operations. “
மிக்ஜாம் புயலால் பெரும் வெள்ளத்தால் பாதித்த வேளச்சேரியில், மீட்புப்பணி நடைபெறாததால், அமைச்சர்கள் சுப்பிரமணி, நேரு மற்றும் உதயநிதி அவர்களை கடுமையாக சாடிய ஆசிரியை #DMKFailsTN pic.twitter.com/NDCAM8i4Jq
— NTK IT Wing (@_ITWingNTK) December 5, 2023
Another pointed out the current situation of CM MK Stalin’s constituency saying, “Chief Minister’s constituency ‘Kolathur’ reeling under floods.”
வெள்ளத்தில் தத்தளிக்கும் முதல்வர் தொகுதி 'கொளத்தூர்'🔴#DMKFailsTN pic.twitter.com/LI5MDGrxc1
— பால்டாயில் (@thirutu_dmk) December 4, 2023
CM #Stalin Constituency after rains.
Rs 4000 crore stormwater package in ruins.#Tamilnadu got empty promises from #DMK.#ChennaiRains #ChennaiFloods pic.twitter.com/iGtAE9GJZC— DrVinushaReddy (@vinushareddyb) November 30, 2023
In Radhakrishnan Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, this was the situation.
Govt, where are you?
I just went to Radhakrishnan nagar, Thiruvamiyur . Water from surrounding areas have been pumped into this area. There were dead animals floating around. pic.twitter.com/hy2C3eWYBQ— Aditi Balan (@AditiBalan) December 5, 2023
Several parts of Chennai and suburbs are still disconnected from the mainland because of the water logging. Many people in Thiruvottriyur were leaving their homes for safer spaces.
எல்லாமே மூழ்கிப்போச்சு.. பாம்புலாம் வீட்டுக்குள்ள வருது – கயிற்றை கட்டி மூட்டை முடிச்சுகளுடன் வேறு இடத்திற்கு செல்லும் மக்கள்#Chennai #Tiruvottiyur #Rain #Flood #CycloneMichaung #Michaung #CycloneUpdate #PolimerNews #CycloneUpdatesWithPolimerNews #Food #AirForce pic.twitter.com/tnYVTO4hcB
— Polimer News (@polimernews) December 6, 2023
Even police personnel’s families in Kilpauk were seen to be suffering from the deluge.
AC-ல இருந்து DC- வரைக்கும் இங்க இருக்கோம்.. எங்க குடும்பம் நல்லா இருந்தா தான பொதுப்பணி செய்ய நாங்க நிம்மதியா போவோம்.. சாப்பாட்டுக்கே கஷ்டமா இருக்கு.. எங்க பிரச்சனையை தீர்க்க யாருமே வரல.. காவலர் குடியிருப்பை சூழ்ந்த மழை நீர் – மனக்குமுறலை கொட்டிய காவலர் #Chennai #Kilpauk #Flood… pic.twitter.com/IF1w5pl3BY
— Polimer News (@polimernews) December 5, 2023
(With inputs from INDIA TODAY)
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