Leading actors of Telugu cinema on Wednesday announced contribution for relief in flood-affected Tamil Nadu with Allu Arjun pledging an aid of Rs.25 lakh and Junior NTR and Mahesh Babu donating Rs.10 lakh each.
“I would like to donate 25 lakh to Chennai flood relief. I spent 18 years of my early life there. It made me who I am today. I love u Chennai,” tweeted Allu Arjun, one of the popular actors of Tollywood.
NTR’s actor-brother Kalyanram also announced Rs.5 lakh to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Ravi Teja said he would be contributing Rs.5 lakh.
Varun Tej announced Rs.3 lakh, while another actor, Sampoornesh Babu said he would donate Rs.50,000 for relief in the state ravaged by heavy rains and floods.
Sai Dharam Tej declared that he would send food and medicines worth Rs.3 lakh for the flood affected people. Sundeep Kishan said he was sending 5,000 food packets from his house in Chennai.
“Felt very sad when I saw pictures of damage caused by floods in Chennai. Tarak and I will be contributing to the Tamil Nadu CM Relief Fund,” Junior NTR tweeted.
The actor also urged others to help the people of Chennai in whatever way they can.
“Shocked and saddened at the natural calamity engulfing Chennai. This is the time to stand in support for our fellow citizens. I did my bit,” tweeted Ravi Teja.
Karnataka on Wednesday announced Rs.5 crore for relief and rescue operations in flood-hit Chennai.
“As a humanitarian gesture, we are also rushing relief materials to Chennai for the people affected by flood waters,” an official told IANS after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced in New Delhi the Rs.5-crore aid to Tamil Nadu.
With air, rail and road connectivity to Chennai disrupted, flights, trains and bus services from Bengaluru were cancelled for the next two days.
Though Chennai is about 350 km away to the southeast of Bengaluru, there is heavy movement of people and goods between the two state capitals, with a dozen flights and trains and about 100 buses operating daily.
As the low pressure over the Bay of Bengal continued to batter Chennai, dark clouds and chilly winds gripped Bengaluru since Monday, with forecast of rains and thundershowers this week.
In a related development, prayers and rituals were performed in temples in the city to appease rain gods for sparing Chennai from further rains, as thousands of people, especially the Tamil-speaking community, with relatives reside in both cities.