Chennai deluge: US offers assistance to India

Offering assistance to India in meeting the humanitarian challenge posed by the Chennai deluge, the US condoled the loss of lives in the worst flooding faced by the city in a 100 years. “The US stands ready to assist the people of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, as well as the Government of India as they face the worst flooding in decades,” State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner said in Washington.

Mr Toner said the US was in touch with the Indian government to discuss ways in which it can provide any assistance at a “difficult time”. So far the US had not received any request for assistance from India, he said. “We’ve offered our assistance. Certainly, India is a very developed government with its own domestic services or capabilities to provide emergency assistance,” he added. “That said, it’s something we normally do especially in the cases of strong partners like India…where we offer whatever assistance we can in the aftermath of natural disaster,” Toner said.

Mr Toner also noted that on December 3, the US Consulate General in Chennai issued an emergency message for American citizens, warning of severe flooding taking place in the region.

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