Cyclone Fengal: Chennai police put up mini control rooms, rescue 24

CHENNAI: The city police's control room received a distress call on Saturday morning from a 97-year-old man in K K Nagar. Srinivasan said that rainwater has flooded his house. KK Nagar law and order inspector Balasubramanian along with his team reached the location and rescued Srinivasan, 87-year old wife Vasantha, and 78-year-old cousin Sankar.

"As the elderly man could not walk, our personnel carried him. They later were shifted to a safe place," said a police official.
This is one among various calls attended by the Greater Chennai City Police on Saturday. Police rescued more than 24 people stranded in waterlogged areas in the city and attended to 13 tree fall calls.
The police have reshaped their disaster response strategy with the establishment of 39 mini control rooms in the city to respond to emergencies and disasters, ensuring effective rescue operations. The control rooms have been equipped with wireless communication devices, boats, and essential contact information to coordinate the rescue operation effectively.
"We have shared the mini control numbers with the respective resident welfare association," said a police officer.

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The city police have established a monsoon control room at the city police commissioner office. This has been integrated with meteorological department, TNEB, Greater Chennai Corporation and Ezhilagam static communication points. However, to prevent any lapse in response due to communication challenges and enhance the efficiency of disaster management operations, the police decided to have decentralised and well equipped mini control rooms.

"During heavy rain, communication channels get cut off and people cannot reach us. So, we identified low lying areas across the city and decided to position our personnel there. In the South zone alone, there are 22 such points," said N Kannan, additional commissioner of police, South.

These control rooms have policemen trained by the State Disaster Response Force, armed reserve personnel and others. They have lifebuoys, boats, ropes and other rescue equipment. "They have wireless systems and others. Residents' associations have been provided with the numbers and other details," said a senior police officer.

Soundararaja Manekkar of Royapettah said this would help in timely response. "It is a good move. Though our area did not face any problem, such a move is a reassurance," he said.