Floods Hits India , turns Chennai into an island

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Flood relief and rescue operations were under way in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on Thursday as the death toll in the region's heaviest seasonal rains in 100 years reached 269.

Federal Home Minister Rajnath Singh called the situation "alarming" and said that the state capital, Chennai, had turned into an island.

Since November, he said another 54 people have died in the heavy rains in the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh.

Floods worsened in Chennai after water was released into the Adyar River from a overflowing reservoir. Highways leading into the city have been damaged and the waterlogged international airport will remain closed until Sunday, Singh said.

At least 2 000 disaster relief and military personnel were deployed, Singh said, adding that ongoing poor weather was making relief work difficult.