The Hindu : Front Page : Rain toll climbs to 38 in State

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Friday, Dec 21, 2007
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Rain toll climbs to 38 in State

Special Correspondent

Standing crops on 72,000 hectares submerged; 9,000 people shifted

— Photo: M. Moorthy

UNDER WATER: A youth displaying paddy crops submerged at Vengur near Tiruchi following heavy rain.

CHENNAI: Five people died in three separate rain-related incidents in the State since Wednesday evening, taking the death toll in the last three days to 38.

While Dindigul and Tiruchi lost two persons each, one died in Coimbatore. With this, as many as 16 districts have reported at least one rain related death, with Tiruchi reporting the maximum number – 6.

Standing crops on about 72,000 hectares are under a sheet of water, according to the Commissioner, Revenue Administration, Sakthikanta Das. As much as 90 per cent of this inundated crop is paddy and, if the rain subsides, the water is expected to run off in the next two days.

Revenue authorities have moved 9,000 people from the delta districts to safer places as 50 villages have been flooded in the area. They are being given food packets and drinking water. About 40 head of cattle perished in the floods. The total huts damaged have been put at 800. Each of the families in the huts was provided Rs.2000, five kg rice, one litre of kerosene and a saree and a dhoti.

Mr. Sakthikanta Das said that the department gave Rs. 1 lakh to the next of kin of 25 victims. Relief efforts were taken up on a war footing and all officials belonging to Revenue, PWD and Health, apart from officials of the district administration had been directed to remain in station over the long weekend that begins on Friday.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who is now in New Delhi, has directed Ministers to direct relief efforts in each of the badly-affected districts.

In the 24 hours that ended at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday, five districts in the State – Tiruvannamalai, Tiruvallur, Dindigul, Villupuram and Vellore – received an average of 100 mm rainfall.

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