Chennai/IBNS:: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Thursday conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in and around Chennai and later met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and discussed the extent of damages caused by Cyclone Michuang.

In his meeting with Stalin, Singh reviewed the current situation in the presence of Dr. L. Murugan, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Talking to reporters after the aerial survey, the Defence Minister said the central and state governments are together putting up an effective response to mitigate the crisis.

He said that the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and other central agencies are assisting the state government in the relief and rescue operations and leaving no stone unturned to bring back normalcy.

The Defence Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is deeply distressed by the loss of lives due to the cyclone and is closely reviewing the situation.

“The Prime Minister spoke to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and has assured all possible help from the Central Government," Singh said.

PM Modi has directed the Union Home Ministry to release in advance the central share of the second installment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) of Rs 493.60 crore to Andhra Pradesh and Rs 450 crore to Tamil Nadu.

"The Centre had already released its first installment of the same amount to both the states,” he said.

Singh said the Centre has approved the first urban flood mitigation project of Rs. 561.29 crore for ‘Integrated Urban Flood Management activities for Chennai Basin Project’ under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund, which also includes central assistance of Rs 500 crore.

[With UNI inputs]