Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin over phone on Sunday to enquire about the flood situation in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, and Kanniyakumari districts. He further assured Tamil Nadu of the Union government’s support.
In a social media post, Mr. Stalin said he explained to the Prime Minister the massive rescue and relief efforts undertaken by the State government despite resource constraints, and sought immediate financial support.
Mr. Stalin further said the Prime Minister told him that he had deputed Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to assess the flood situation.
PMO takes stock
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Sunday took stock of the relief and rehabilitation efforts that are on in the flood-hit southern districts of Tamil Nadu.
“A high-level meeting was held today to take stock of the situation in Tamil Nadu and supporting the State in this situation,” government sources said. Officers of the PMO interacted with officials in Tamil Nadu to discuss relief and rehabilitation in the State post-floods.
Matters including deployment of additional National Disaster Response Force personnel and Armed Forces and a visit by an inter-Ministerial Central team to assess the damage were discussed, sources said.
“Further need, if any, for deployment of the National Disaster Response Force and Armed Forces, including the sending of more helicopters etc., was discussed,” the sources said. “A visit by an inter-Ministerial Central team to assess the damage was also discussed in the meeting,” they said.