Monday, November 28 2005 10:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Relief work in flood-affected areas of Tamil Nadu, battered by heavy rains over the past few days, is on in full swing, with a let up in the rains today (Nov 28, 2005).

Though the local weather office forecast rain or thundershowers at a few places over the state, there have been no reports of heavy rains in any area. However, the situation is still grim as the flood waters have not yet receded.

The metropolis, which experienced a few rain spells in some areas last evening and in the night, was free of rains this morning and bright sunshine greeted the people.

A total of 279 persons have died so far in rain related incidents since November 1, including those in the bus tragedies in in Ramanathapuram and Thanjavur districts.

Armed forces, the government machinery and private organisations are working round-the-clock to restore some normalcy in flood ravaged areas.

Yesterday, union ministers Shivraj Patil and P Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and DMK Chief M Karunanidhi, visited affected areas.

Patil said funds would not be a constraint, while Chidambaram, who accompanied him said at Tiruchi that he would take up with the Prime Minister, the state's demand for Rs 3,000 crore for relief work.

Jayalalithaa visited flood affected areas in Tiruchirapalli and later told reporters that the Centre was duty bound to take care of requirements of the entire country.

The Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh also telephonically enquired with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa about the flood situation in the state and assured full support to the government in it's relief efforts.

After a four-day gap, train services between the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu and Chennai on the chord line resumed yesterday with the restoration of the track near here, which suffered a 200-metre long breach due to heavy rains earlier this week.

Earlier, a trial run was conducted successfully on the repaired track.

Traffic on the chord line running through Viruadhachalam and Villupuram remained suspended and several trains cancelled after the track between Kattur and Pullambadi in Tiruchirappali division was breached on Thursday.

The Railways had undertaken the repair work on a war footing as the chord line is the main link from Chennai to the Southern districts.