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Torrential rain lashes Karaikal

Special Correspondent

Grim flood situation, boats evacuate people to safer places 30.8 cm of rain recorded in 24 hours; 22 relief centres set up, food distributed

Pondicherry: Karaikal continued to be pounded by non-stop rain on Tuesday. Karaikal District Collector S. Sundaravadivelou told The Hindu that as 30.8 cm of rain was recorded during the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Monday.

He said that 22 relief centres were functioning in the region and 20,000 food packets were distributed for lunch and an equal number at night to the affected people accommodated in the centres.

He said that with severe damage to the Arasalar causeway linking Karaikal and Nagapattinam, towns and villages on both sides of the river were virtually cut off. Mr. Sundaravadivelou said that around 1000 staff attached to the Fire Service, Police, Local Administration, PWD and Revenue departments were deployed to keep vigil. Wherever houses were marooned or huts waterlogged inmates were being helped to the nearest accommodation centres with the help of boats. A report of a wall collapse was also received. The Collector said that there was no casualty anywhere in the region although most residential areas were flooded with knee-deep water.

Around 4000 huts and houses were marooned in several villages. Water was also overflowing through important segments in the Karaikal town limits. A PWD source at Karaikal said that during the last eight days the region recorded a total rainfall of 70 cms.

Convenor of the Karaikal Struggle Group, S.P. Selvashanmugham said that the region presented a grim picture with flood waters running through almost all areas in and around the town.

He appealed to all voluntary organizations and philanthropists to provide food to the rain ravaged people accommodated in schools and places of worship. Mr. Selvashanmugham said that during such critical times government machinery alone would not be able to accomplish the task of providing relief to flood affected families.

Food packets

The Central kitchens set up by the Department of Education in Pondicherry and Karaikal regions to provide noon meals for school children came in handy for the Revenue Department of Pondicherry to help prepare food for those affected by the rain. The Education and the Revenue department staff distributed about 1.56 lakh food packets to the rain-hit people of Pondicherry and Karaikal regions.

The Director of School Education, G. Theva Needhi Dhas, said here today that on Tuesday food packets were distributed to 81,000 persons affected by rain in Pondicherry.

Rangasamy seeks relief

Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has sought Rs. 150 crores from the Centre to tackle the floods in Pondicherry and Karaikal.

He told presspersons here on Tuesday that he had visited rain-ravaged areas to see the extent of damage. As immediate relief, the administration would give 50 kg of rice and Rs. 500 in cash to each of the affected families.

The rice distribution would be on the basis of ration cards, irrespective of whether they belong to the red or yellow colour category.

All schools and colleges, including private institutions, would be closed on Wednesday also. The schools would be used for accommodating people.

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