Flood waters swirl in south India even as rain eases

Published December 4, 2015
Indian residents make their way through floodwaters in Chennai on December 3, 2015. — AFP
Indian residents make their way through floodwaters in Chennai on December 3, 2015. — AFP
Indian residents walk through floodwaters in Chennai on December 2, 2015.  — AFP
Indian residents walk through floodwaters in Chennai on December 2, 2015. — AFP
Indian army personnel use a boat to rescue residents from floodwaters in Chennai on December 3, 2015.  Thousands of rescuers raced to evacuate residents from deadly flooding, as India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to the southern state of Tamil Nadu to survey the devastation. — AFP
Indian army personnel use a boat to rescue residents from floodwaters in Chennai on December 3, 2015. Thousands of rescuers raced to evacuate residents from deadly flooding, as India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to the southern state of Tamil Nadu to survey the devastation. — AFP
People walk through a flooded street in Chennai, India, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. — AP
People walk through a flooded street in Chennai, India, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. — AP
Indian rescue personnel and police officials paddle an inflatable boat through floodwaters as they evacuate residents in Chennai on December 2, 2015. — AFP
Indian rescue personnel and police officials paddle an inflatable boat through floodwaters as they evacuate residents in Chennai on December 2, 2015. — AFP
An aerial view of a partially submerged airplane is pictured in a flood affected area in Chennai, India, December 3, 2015. — Reuters
An aerial view of a partially submerged airplane is pictured in a flood affected area in Chennai, India, December 3, 2015. — Reuters
Displaced residents try to grab free food distributed by volunteers in the flood-affected areas of Chennai, India, December 3, 2015. — Reuetrs
Displaced residents try to grab free food distributed by volunteers in the flood-affected areas of Chennai, India, December 3, 2015. — Reuetrs
This general view shows Indian residents as they look at floodwaters on a major highway in Chennai on December 3, 2015.  — AFP
This general view shows Indian residents as they look at floodwaters on a major highway in Chennai on December 3, 2015. — AFP
Auto rickshaws and other vehicles are submerged in flood waters in Kotturpuram area during heavy rains in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. — AP
Auto rickshaws and other vehicles are submerged in flood waters in Kotturpuram area during heavy rains in Chennai, India, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. — AP
Indian Air Force helicopter following heavy rains in the region. Thousands of rescuers raced to evacuate residents from deadly flooding, as India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed to the southern state of Tamil Nadu to survey the devastation. — AFP
Indian Air Force helicopter following heavy rains in the region. Thousands of rescuers raced to evacuate residents from deadly flooding, as India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed to the southern state of Tamil Nadu to survey the devastation. — AFP
This Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, photo, shows flooding near Madha Institute of Engineering and Technology in Chennai, India.  — AP
This Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, photo, shows flooding near Madha Institute of Engineering and Technology in Chennai, India. — AP
People who were stranded in Chennai due to floods arrive in New Delhi after being evacuated by Indian Air Force, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. — AP
People who were stranded in Chennai due to floods arrive in New Delhi after being evacuated by Indian Air Force, in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. — AP
Flooded areas are pictured on the outskirts of Chennai, India, December 2, 2015. — Reuters
Flooded areas are pictured on the outskirts of Chennai, India, December 2, 2015. — Reuters
An Indian woman wades through floodwaters in Chennai on December 2, 2015. — AFP
An Indian woman wades through floodwaters in Chennai on December 2, 2015. — AFP
A man carries a dog as he wades through a flooded street in Chennai, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India, December 3, 2015.  — Reuters
A man carries a dog as he wades through a flooded street in Chennai, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, India, December 3, 2015. — Reuters
Indian National Disaster Response Force personnel rescue flood victims in Chennai, India, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. — AP
Indian National Disaster Response Force personnel rescue flood victims in Chennai, India, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. — AP
An elderly Indian man carries a child as he walks through floodwaters in Chennai on December 3, 2015. — AFP
An elderly Indian man carries a child as he walks through floodwaters in Chennai on December 3, 2015. — AFP
A man sits in an auto-rickshaw in a flooded area in Chennai, India, December 3, 2015. — Reuters
A man sits in an auto-rickshaw in a flooded area in Chennai, India, December 3, 2015. — Reuters
This general view shows buildings inundated by floodwaters in Chennai on December 3, 2015. — AFP
This general view shows buildings inundated by floodwaters in Chennai on December 3, 2015. — AFP
An Indian Air Force personnel is silhouetted as people who were stranded in Chennai due to floods deplane in New Delhi after being evacuated by the air force Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. — AP
An Indian Air Force personnel is silhouetted as people who were stranded in Chennai due to floods deplane in New Delhi after being evacuated by the air force Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. — AP
People travel on a boat as they move to safer places through a flooded road in Chennai, India, December 2, 2015. — Reuters
People travel on a boat as they move to safer places through a flooded road in Chennai, India, December 2, 2015. — Reuters
Rescuers try to evacuate a man stranded in the floods by an over-flowing Adyar River in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. — AP
Rescuers try to evacuate a man stranded in the floods by an over-flowing Adyar River in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015. — AP
Indian rescue workers travel in the bucket of a bulldozer as they navigate through floodwaters in Chennai on December 3, 2015. — AFP
Indian rescue workers travel in the bucket of a bulldozer as they navigate through floodwaters in Chennai on December 3, 2015. — AFP
Residents along with a dog evacuate a locality as they wade through a flooded street in Chennai, India, December 3, 2015. — Reuters
Residents along with a dog evacuate a locality as they wade through a flooded street in Chennai, India, December 3, 2015. — Reuters
Indian residents carry children and possessions as they walk through floodwaters in Chennai on December 3, 2015. — AFP
Indian residents carry children and possessions as they walk through floodwaters in Chennai on December 3, 2015. — AFP
Indians wait for their onward journey at the Palam Airport after being evacuated from flood affected southern Indian city of Chennai by special Indian Air Force plane in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. — AP
Indians wait for their onward journey at the Palam Airport after being evacuated from flood affected southern Indian city of Chennai by special Indian Air Force plane in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. — AP
Indian bystanders and travellers gather as floodwaters lap at the end of a highway in Chennai on December 2, 2015. — AFP
Indian bystanders and travellers gather as floodwaters lap at the end of a highway in Chennai on December 2, 2015. — AFP

NEW DELHI: Tens of thousands of people are crowding into government-run relief camps in southern India's Tamil Nadu state, as floods continue to swirl despite a respite from days of relentless rains.

By late morning Friday, state capital Chennai has seen scant rain for almost 24 hours. Local residents are still complaining bitterly that their homes remain inundated and help from the government is absent.

Access to the region remains closed with the main airport still shut and rail tracks flooded.

The Indian Meteorological Department scaled down a forecast for very heavy rains but adds that more rain or thunderstorms are likely.

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