In some respite for the people of Tamil Nadu, there has been no rain in the last few hours. A day after Chennai was declared a disaster zone by the Tamil Nadu government, large parts of the city continue to remain under water. The Met Department has warned of more rains for the next one week. Army, Navy and teams of the National Disaster Management Force (NDRF) are engaged in rescue and relief operations across the city.

Oh god, please keep my Chennai and its people safe from the floods

— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) December 1, 2015

NDRF DG OP Singh says there are more than 100 boats and 29 teams involved in the rescue work

The state government has also asked all private firms to declare a holiday for employees on December 3, 4.

Meanwhile, as the first step to evacuate stranded passengers out of Chennai, national carrier Air India (AI) conducted a trial landing at Arakkonam naval air station using an empty Airbus A320 aircraft.

#ChennaiFloods I have not seen anything like this in my lifetime till now... Record breaking rain... pic.twitter.com/nIotJRvUN8

— Anand B (@Anandb7845) December 1, 2015

Arakkonam is about 70 km from Chennai. “As soon as the road from Chennai to Arakkonam clears, which is likely to be much earlier than the Chennai airport airstrip, we can commence operations,” said a senior AI official. As of now, Chennai airport has been shut down till December 6.

Sources said as per DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) rules, a trial landing is a compulsory requirement before passenger operations can begin at an airport.

Our senior correspondent Shivani Chaturvedi reports

Coastal city of Chennai is now an island. One cannot get out or come in.

Twenty-five-year-old Aaditya is unable to contact his parents in Madurai nor is he able to travel to his parents as the city is cut from rail and road links. 

Native of Madurai, Aaditya moved to the state capital four years back and is working in a private company.

“I have no idea how to go out. I am stuck here,” says Aaditya. “Chennai is floating since yesterday and no concrete steps have been taken by the government. We are struggling for food. Nearby food outlets are closed and we cannot commute to any other locality. There is no water supply. Power supply has been cut off,” he said.

Satyendra Yadav, Munna Yadav and Chotelal Chaudhary are working as security guards in a private company in Saidapet locality. In Saidapet area along river Adyar, more than 2000 huts are submerged. Satyendra, Munna and Chotelal too are unable to reach their family members over phone in Sitamani in Bihar. “This is not for the first time such a situation has arisen. A fortnight back also there was rain havoc. We want to know what measures government has taken to tackle the situation,” asks Chotelal.  

Madras high court advocate Vikraman, a resident of Habibullah road says, earlier water never used to stagnate this way. “The situation is really bad,” he said. “In the name of assisting people, some miscreants are charging passersby Rs 2000 to Rs 3000 for helping them pushing their vehicles through flooded water,” he said angrily. Such instances are pouring in from several parts of the city.

Flooding of the city and the suburbs has been caused by release of water from the reservoirs such as Chembarambakkam, Poondi and Puzhal into Adyar and Cooum that cross the city.