The DRDO - Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) on Friday despatched four tonnes of food products to the rain-hit Chennai while two trucks carrying food from CSRI-Central Food Technological Research Institute left the town for Tamil Nadu.
The DFRL despatched the consignment by a truck sent by the collector of Krishnagiri district in Tamil Nadu.
A deputy collector and Revenue department officials had come to Mysuru by the vehicle. They are coordinating with Air Force and Navy officials for distribution of food to flood victims.
DFRL had already sent a food consignment of 3.5 tonne on November 25 to Tamil Nadu. The items sent on Friday include tomato peas pulav, vegetable pulav and sooji halwa. All are ready-to-eat foods, according to a press note sent by Mallesha, a scientist in charge of public relations of DFRL.
Addressing presspersons in the City, CSIR-CFTRI Director Ram Rajasekharan said that the institute had already despatched 4.5 MT of food on Thursday night.
“Five personnel from CFTRI and 30 staffers from CSIR-CLRI based in Chennai will distribute the food to the victims in association with NGOs and Tamil Nadu government. The food will be supplied to inaccessible places by helicopters,” he said.
The CFTRI’s consignments comprised chapatis, buns, biscuits, rusks, cornflakes, roasted groundnuts, energy food and 50,000 bottles of drinking water. It also consists of 10,000 candles and 10,000 matchboxes. All products can be consumed up to three months. The food items are generally classified for elders and children.
Rajasekharan said that 50 scientists and 300 students of CFTRI have been able to prepare 10 tonne of food in 36 hours.
“CFTRI intends to supply at least 15 tonne of food to around 50,000 victims. However, if there is more demand from the authorities concerned, the institute will meet it,” he said.
DH News Service
