Chennai, Dec 3: As many as 200 stranded people were airlifted by Indian Air Force (IAF) on Thursday from Chennai after heavy rains battered the city and other parts of the Tamil Nadu. Those, who were rescued by IAF, are being brought to Air base in Begumpet in Telangana. The IAF choppers also dropped food packets for stranded locals in the city. Also Read - Reassess COVID Situation, Focus on Micro Containment Zones: PM Modi to CMs of 7 Worst-hit States

Meanwhile, light showers of rain started in Koyambedu,Vadapalani, Ashok Nagar and Ekkaduthangal areas of Chennai. After 48 hours, though there is reduction in intensity of rainfall but we don’t see total secession of rainfall for next 5-6 days, said the IMD. “269 people have died so far due to heavy rains. About 40 percent of the mobile and telephone connections are not working due to floods,” said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha. (ALSO READ: Chennai rains: Failure of drainage system, urbanisation behind floods?) Also Read - Shaheen Bagh's 82-Year-Old Bilkis Named in Time Magazine's List of 100 Most Influential People

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Chennai to take stock of the situation in the worst affected areas. “Leaving for Chennai to take stock of the situation arising due to the devastating floods,” tweeted Modi. The Union Home Ministry also held a crisis meet to review the flood-like situation arising out of incessant rains in Chennai and the coastal parts of Tamil Nadu. The NDRF has deployed additional teams to speed up the rescue operations in Tami Nadu. (ALSO READ: Chennai Rains: Narendra Modi visits city to take stock of situation even as rains take temporary hike)

In the flood hit northern part of Tamil Nadu, the situation has improved slightly with the scale of rain coming down since yesterday. Power supply has been restored in most parts of Chennai. Water has started receding from many areas of the city. However, the suburban west Tambaram areas are still submerged under water.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa will also conduct an aerial survey of the flood affected areas of Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallu today.

The Chennai Airport will remain closed till Sunday. From today, Chennai bound flights will be landing at INS Rajali Airbase of Indian Navy at Arakonam which is about 60 kilometres from Chennai. Heavy rains and water overflowing above the danger level at Railway Bridges in Chennai-Gudur section has impacted the functioning of trains following which the South Central Railway (SCR) has cancelled 12 trains and assured full refunds of fare for the same.