Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman wades through water in Chennai
By Newsmeter Network Published on 31 Oct 2019 12:50 PM GMT
Chennai: Marking the occasion of Sardar Vallabhai Patel and Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Chennai on Thursday as part of the National Unity Day celebrations in Tamil Nadu.
Following the heavy rains in the city on Wednesday, most parts of Chennai faced water stagnation and clogging. The minister waded through water-lodged street in Shenoy Nagar as part of a walkathon.
City police escorted the minister, and several BJP leaders accompanied her. During the walkathon, she said, “In the services, they both did for India, each did with striking simplicity.”
Videos of the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clad in bright purple saree wading through waters went viral on social media. Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department predicted that heavy to very heavy rains are likely to occur in 22 districts of Tamil Nadu until Friday. It may be noted that due to heavy rainfall in the State, seven districts in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry declared a holiday for schools and colleges for the second consecutive day on Thursday.
Educational institutions in Thoothukudi, Kodaikanal and Kanyakumari, declared a holiday today, while only schools in Ramanathapuram, Nilgiris, Karaikal and Rameswaram declared a holiday. Schools in Puducherry declared a holiday as well. As rains continued in several districts, Kodiveri dam near Erode and Kutralam have been cordoned off for visitors.
Fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been warned not to venture into the sea. As the cyclone is in Kanyakumari, fisher folks from Tirunelveli and neighbouring 10 districts did not enter the water. The inflow of Perunjani dam in Kanyakumari increased, and the outflow has been increased to 4,000 cusecs.
Besides, Met officials stated that a new low pressure would be formed in Andaman on November 4. In Chennai, officials claim that there are chances of light to moderate rainfall where the city may witness maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 32 and 26 degree Celsius.
