Chennai, Dec 7 – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to arrive in Chennai on Friday to assess the aftermath of Cyclone Michaung, which brought unprecedented rains and extensive damages to Tamil Nadu. The minister will conduct an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas for an hour from noon.
The visit aims to evaluate the destruction caused by the cyclone, especially to roads and other infrastructure. Following the survey, Rajnath Singh will meet with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to discuss the damages and the relief operations initiated by the state government.
During the meeting, Chief Minister Stalin is expected to present a petition seeking interim relief from the Centre to support the ongoing relief efforts. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin had previously requested immediate interim relief of Rs 5,060 crore for flood-affected areas and urged the deployment of a Central team to estimate the damages.
The state government has already commenced work on estimating the damages, and once a detailed report is prepared, it will be sent to the Centre for additional assistance. In parallel, DMK MPs have raised the issue in Parliament, emphasizing the need for immediate relief allocation. The visit of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh underscores the government’s commitment to understanding the ground reality and providing necessary support to address the challenges posed by Cyclone Michaung.
