The Centre today said it was making "all possible efforts" to provide succour and relief to the people of rain battered Chennai and other areas in Tamil Nadu.
Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said the central government is in touch with the state government and the Union Home Secretary is continuously monitoring the situation in the affected areas.
"I have spoken to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. Centre is providing all sort of assistance and will continue to help. Some naval and army forces have been mobilised and we have made arrangements of helicopters but all this we can do after the situation improves. Wherever it is possible we are trying to reach," he told reporters outside Parliament.
The Union Urban Development Minister said the Chennai airport was shut and also public transport was not working.
"People are not in good situation so they have come out from houses and power supply has been halted as a precautionary measure and also schools have been closed.
"But, the situation of poor and middle class people is tense and government is making all possible efforts (to provide aid to them)," he said.
He said Home Minister Rajnath Singh will make a statement on the situation in both houses of Parliament today.
"I appreciate the residents of Chennai as they are helping each other. RSS and media organisations are doing sevice actively. During the discussion in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha yesterday everyone had expressed solidarity with the people of Tamil Nadu," he said.
