AS THE sun shone bright, flood-battered south Indian city Chennai and its suburbs were on Monday (December 7) fast on course to normalcy with train and air services resuming after days of disruption due to unprecedented rains.
Waters have receded from most areas of the city ravaged by floods and the authorities have scrambled nearly 25,000 sanitary workers to clear the stinking garbage accumulated over the past several days to prevent outbreak of diseases.
Chennai Airport Director Deepak Shastri said the facility became fully functional this morning.
"Airport is functioning one hundred per cent. In fact, I am waiting for the schedule from private airlines," he said.
A total of 35 flights operated till around 5 pm although international services were yet to go on full steam.
As many as 18 flights of state-owned and private carriers, arrived from various cities including Delhi, Mumbai and Goa among others, officials said.
Similarly, 17 flights to various destinations including Delhi, Mumbai, Port Blair and Bangalore took off, they said.
International flight operations commenced since 6 am on Monday. An Air India Express flight arrived at 10 am this morning, Airports Authority of India said in a release.
All flight operations to and from Chennai had to be suspended last Tuesday (December 1) night after the runway and other operation areas got submerged following heavy downpour.
A Southern Railway spokesperson told reporters that all trains, particularly to Chennai and its surrounding areas, began operating in full swing from Monday.
However, educational institutions in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallore remained closed following weatherman's forecast on Sunday (December 6) of more rain.
Private sector offices, including those of the IT giants, either were partially closed or their employees asked to work from home.
Milk supply was being restored, while Mobile and landline services continued to face glitches with call drops and poor signals.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has said the situation was fast improving that life will become fully normal in a few days.
"As of now, the situation due to the impact of floods is improving, and the situation will be fully normal in a few days," she said as water receded from most parts of the city and its suburbs.
She said 25,000 sanitary workers, including 500 brought from other districts, were busy removing garbage and disinfecting the affected areas to prevent outbreak of diseases.
She said 80,120 personnel from state and Central agencies, including the Armed Forces, were pressed into service across the state to evacuate people and provide them relief.
"An IAS officer was assigned for relief work in each of the 15 zones in Chennai. The rains were unprecedented in the past 100 years," she said in an official release.
