Here’s how Amma Canteens are helping Cyclone Vardah victims

Cyclone 'Vardah' has made a landfall in Chennai and will take four hours to cross the city completely.

By: News Desk |
December 12, 2016 3:44 pm

If you are a resident of Chennai and worried about what to eat in wake of Cyclone Vardah, here’s a news that will ease your worries. The state-run Amma canteens will remain open throughout the day and will serve food to the people free of cost.

Tamil Nadu’s ruling party All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) announced it on Twitter. The party has also volunteered to help those needy during the cyclone.

Amma canteen is open throughout the city, food will be provided free of cost to all #cyclonevardah

— AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) December 12, 2016

Amma Unavagam (Amma Canteen) was started by late chief minister J Jayalalithaa in her previous tenure three years ago. Comprising a chain of highly-subsidised restaurants, Amma Canteens became an instant hit among the masses. By 2016, more than 300 such canteens have been opened in the state.

Two people have been killed after heaeavy rains along with high velocity winds hit several parts of Chennai and the state on Monday due to cyclone ‘Vardah’ which made a landfall at the state capital. It is expected that the process will be completed in four hours, the Indian Meteorological Department predicted.

Power supply has been suspended in many part of the state. Around 8,000 people from low lying areas in north Chennai, Pazhaverkadu and other villages in Kanchipuram districts were evacuated. The Army, Navy and Air Force have been put on alert to tackle the situation. Besides this, 15 teams of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) have been deployed in various regions of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.