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NEW DELHI -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met senior cabinet ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj and Venkaiah Naidu and reportedly discussed emergency measures to be taken to assist the government in rain-ravaged Tamil Nadu, and especially help the people of Chennai, which has been the recipient of heavy rains over the last week.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said the Government of India was willing to extend all support, saying "This is not just a Chennai problem; it is a problem of the entire country."
"The situation in Chennai is really very serious. It is becoming grimmer day by day with regard to flooding of the city. It's a very precarious situation, something unprecedented in 100 years," Naidu told the media here.
Naidu also said that the Government of India is in touch with the state administration and is extending whatever support is required.
"NDRF teams have been sent, Army and Navy has been alerted whatever support they need that is being extended. The earlier SDRF amount sanctioned which wasn't released has been released, and also another 500 crores, total together around 930 crores have been released," he added.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju also pointed out that the Prime Minister Modi has assured that all necessary help would be extended to them.
"Our NDRF teams have initiated the process; we haven't seen this kind of heavy rains in Chennai in past," he said.
When asked as to how many teams would be sent to for the relief, Rijiju said "Since there is no flood-like situation in the other part of country, so if more number of NDRF teams are required, we would send them."
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also affirmed the Centre's support to the flood-affected city.
"The Prime Minister himself has talked to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The Central Government is with the people of Tamil Nadu in this difficult time and is providing every possible help," Naqvi told the media here.
The non-stop torrential rain, pouring since Monday evening as most areas in the city remained submerged - some under five feet of water.
The weather office said a slow-moving depression over southwest Bay of Bengal has triggered the fresh bout of heavy rain in Tamil Nadu, which is still smarting from a cyclonic storm that hit the state in November.
Click here to see how you can help Chennai flood victims.
An Indian woman carries a vessel of water at a slum dwelling as it rains in Chennai, India, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. Heavy rains lashed Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu state Friday, throwing life out of gear and disrupting train and flight schedules even as dozens were killed in rain related incidents, according to news reports. The Indian Meteorological Department has warned of more rains over the weekend. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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An Indian couple walks on a dry stretch of land on the waterlogged Marina Beach after heavy rainfall in Chennai, India, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. Heavy rains lashed Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu state Friday, throwing life out of gear and disrupting train and flight schedules even as dozens were killed in rain related incidents, according to news reports. The Indian Meteorological Department has warned of more rains over the weekend. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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The Marina beach on the Bay of Bengal coast is partly covered with rainwater after heavy rains in Chennai, India, Sunday, Nov.15, 2015. The Indian Meteorological Department has warned of very heavy showers in the city in the next 24 hours.. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Indian commuters carry their motorbikes on a submerged cart as they wade through a waterlogged subway in Chennai, India, Monday, Nov. 9, 2015. Heavy rains continue to lash several parts of the city after the India Meteorological Department alerted a cyclone warning on the Bay of Bengal coast likely to make landfall between Chennai and Puducherry on Monday evening, according to local reports. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K.) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Indians help a man carry his two-wheeler on a cycle cart as they wade through a waterlogged subway in Chennai, India, Monday, Nov. 9, 2015. Heavy rains continue to lash several parts of the city after the India Meteorological Department alerted a cyclone warning on the Bay of Bengal coast likely to make landfall between Chennai and Puducherry on Monday evening, according to local reports. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K.) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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An Indian child swims through a waterlogged subway during heavy rains in Chennai, India, Monday, Nov. 9, 2015. Heavy rains continue to lash several parts of the city after the India Meteorological Department alerted a cyclone warning on the Bay of Bengal coast likely to make landfall between Chennai and Puducherry on Monday evening, according to local reports. (AP Photo/Arun Sankar K.) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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