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Chennai floods: Video shows desperate attempts to flee devastation

The death toll has reached at least 269 people.

Marta Portocarrero
Friday 04 December 2015 14:02 GMT
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Death toll in India rains and floods reaches 269

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Thousands of people are trying to escape the devastating floods that have hit Chennai, fearing further heavy rain will cause more destruction.

After three days of heavy rainfall, floodwater have started to recede in parts of the city.

More than 7,000 people have been rescued but many are still stranded.

According to the Indian Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, at least 269 people have died as a result of the torrential downpours.

As the video shows, military helicopters dropped food to residents stranded on rooftops in Chennai, India’s fourth-largest city.

On Friday, the Defence Ministry doubled the number of soldiers deployed to help the rescue effort to 4,000.

It has been reported that the surrounding Tamil Nadu area has experienced its heaviest rainfall in more than a century, with three days rainfall affecting housing, hospitals and transport.

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