Tamil Nadu government keeps Army waiting, Chennai rescue operations suffer

CHENNAI: CHENNAI: Lack of coordination between the government and central agencies like the Army, Coast Guard, NDRF and Air Force are hindering relief and rescue work in Chennai.
On Saturday, army personnel at the HQ in Chennai had a long wait with food and other essentials as state officials failed to get back about on where they had to be distributed.On Sunday, as NGOs and activists spread out into the flood-ravaged areas in the early hours, at least seven IAF choppers remained in their hangars for most of the day, waiting for the state to get back to them.
The team of IAF personnel waited with food packets sent from Bangalore. But, there was neither any word nor sign of relief coming from the government even at 11am.
An IAF officer told TOI, "Today, there has been no movement of choppers yet. We have six or seven here and we can get another seven if necessary. We are waiting for the government nod."
As frantic messages for rescue, food and water flooded on Whatsapp, some defence teams waited anxiously for food and other materials to distribute. "Our chopper picked up some packages from an NGO in Bangalore. But, we are waiting for government relief to distribute in the city," said the officer at 11am on Sunday. "We get relief kits from NGOs, but the state government machinery can do much more," he said.
On Saturday morning, the Army HQ in the Dakshin Bharat area in the city saw a flurry of activity with additional columns and relief materials being mobilised.
For more than five hours after sunrise, however, nothing moved from the headquarters, causing frustration among senior army officers. "We can move columns immediately, but we are awaiting directions from the state administration," said an officer.
This, when there have been cries for food and water in areas of north Chennai, which remained cut off from relief. Ironically, one unit of the Army, awaiting deployment from the headquarters, had been assigned to flood-hit Manali in the north.
Often there were instances when the state government would ask the Army to reach a marooned spot. But, on reaching the area, the team would find that water had completely receded, said a high-ranking army officer.