31 dead in Tamil Nadu rain, Centre allocates Rs 900 crore: Finance Minister

Tamil Nadu rain fury: In the wake of severe rainfall wreaking havoc in Tamil Nadu, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman disclosed that the deluge had claimed the lives of 31 individuals across four districts. Sitharaman revealed that the Centre promptly allocated Rs 900 crore in two tranches for immediate utilisation in the ongoing financial year to aid the rain-battered state.

Addressing the press in New Delhi, Sitharaman highlighted the advanced forecasting capabilities of Chennai's Regional Meteorological Centre, which accurately predicted the heavy rainfall hitting Tenkasi, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, and Tuticorin on December 17. Sitharaman dismissed claims by DMK Minister Mano Thangaraj suggesting delayed weather updates, emphasising the proactive forecasting measures undertaken.

Disputing criticism about the utilisation of prior aid, Sitharaman referenced the Rs 4,000 crore assistance provided after the 2015 extreme rainfall, indicating that better management could have mitigated the recent crisis. Responding to accusations by Chief Minister MK Stalin regarding insufficient relief funds from the central government, Sitharaman countered, highlighting the state government's independent relief efforts, citing financial aid of Rs 6,000 for severely affected areas and Rs 1,000 per family for those impacted in other districts.

She criticised Stalin for being in Delhi during the disaster, suggesting a lack of immediate response. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) assisted in Thoothukudi, one of the severely affected districts, while Tenkasi and Kanyakumari also grappled with heavy rainfall-induced floods on December 17 and 18.

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