As flood water starts to recede from parts of Chennai and other districts of Tamil Nadu, people fear outbreak of epidemics.
 
City-based doctors feel there is a lot to be done to tackle the situation. 
 
A city-based doctor says, till now there is no concrete contingency plan from the government to handle outbreak of epidemics. “Are we really prepared to tackle epidemics?” she asks. Teams from primary health centres (PHCs) who are in affected locations across the state, organising camps, are coming back to Chennai now, she adds. “As of now there are no directives for further action to be taken, she says.  
 
L Sathish, senior manager at Fortis Malar, says, jaundice and typhoid vaccination, tablet for typhoid and de-worming, screening test for malaria, philaria, and pyrexia of unknown origin, should be done in a rapid way.

There are chances of leptospirosis also known as mud fever or rat fever spreading now.
 
Talking to Governance Now, Tamil Nadu health secretary J Radhakrishnan says measures are being taken to stop the outbreak of epidemics. “We will have location based screening of people so that medicines can be dispatched. Bleaching powder will be sprinkled in areas where water recedes. Also, we will double the amount of chlorination,” says Radhakrishnan.

Meanwhile, the Chennai airport will resume 24-hour domestic and international flight operations from 6 am tomorrow, Airports Authority of India officials said. Airport director Deepak Shastri said the airport is using an Air Force radar as its own radar and navigation equipment have been damaged in the flooding.

The railways ran 70 special trains today carrying 45,000 passengers. The Southern Railway has announced that 80 per cent trains, including long-distance, will be operational from tomorrow morning from both Chennai Central and Egmore terminals.

Buses, trains and autos are back on roads in many places, aiding the city to limp back to normalcy. Several private and public sector banks operated today.  However, schools and colleges will be closed till further notice.