FM Nirmala Sitharaman cites IMD alert, to blame Tamil Nadu government for floods distress

The Centre has released Rs 900 crore to Tamil Nadu's disaster relief fund to deal with unprecedented rains that created havoc in four districts of Tenkasi, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin on December 17, leading to 31 deaths and thousands being evacuated to safe shelters . Briefing the media on Friday, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Centre has released Rs 900 crore in two instalments to the state disaster relief fund which already had an opening balance of Rs 813 crore in the beginning of the financial year for dealing with the natural calamities.