The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Heavy rain to continue in State

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Heavy rain to continue in State

Tamil Nadu Bureau

Seven killed in last 10 days; Chief Minister directs Collectors to carry out relief works

— Photo: N. Rajesh

ASSESSING DAMAGE: Union Minister of State for Home V. Radhika Selvi looking at the affected paddy at Kandankudiiruppu in Tuticorin district on Friday.

CHENNAI: Heavy rainfall continued to lash the southern districts of the State on Friday.

The Meteorological department, attributing it to the presence of a low pressure area over Lakshadweep, said the State and Puducherry would continue to receive isolated, very heavy rain. Most parts of the State received rainfall during the 24-hour-period ending 8-30 a.m. on Friday. R.S. Mangalam (Ramanathapuram district) received 21 cm, Radhapuram (Tirunelveli) and Ketti (the Nilgiris) 19 cm each. Among other areas that received heavy rainfall were, Sivagiri (Tirunelveli) and Karur Paramathi – 15 cm each; Nanguneri (Tirunelveli) and Tuticorin 13 cm each; Srivaikuntam (Tuticorin) 12 cm; Thiruvadanai (Ramanathapuram) 11 cm; and Kadaladi (Ramanathapuram), Sholinghur (Vellore), Erode, Natham (Dindigul) 10 cm each. Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded one cm each.

According to a government release, Tiruneveli, Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar have been experiencing very heavy to heavy rainfall in the last 10 days. On Thursday, Sivakasi registered 12 cm rain; Rajapalayam and Watrap 11 cm each (all the three areas in Virudhunagar district) and Radhapuram (Tirunelveli) 10 cm. On Friday, the State, as a whole, recorded 4 cm rain.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi asked the Collectors of the rain-hit districts to visit the affected areas and carry out relief works vigorously. They have also been asked to make an assessment of cultivated lands damaged in the rain.

The release said seven persons, including three women, lost their lives in the rains. The number of cattle died was about 50. About 150 huts were damaged and 300 families in Anna Nagar of Sayalkudi town panchyat of Ramanathapuram district were removed to a relief centre. About 3,120 hectares of lands cultivated with paddy (2,816 hectares in Tuticorin district and 296 hectares in Virudhunagar) were inundated.

Boys washed away

According to a report from Virudhunagar, two boys were washed away by floods in the district on Friday. The search for the boys, hailing from Vadamalakurichi near Virudhunagar and Watrap, was on.

Fire and Rescue Services personnel rescued seven persons who were caught in flood near Rajapalayam.

Virudhunagar Collector V. Chandrasekaran, who inspected the affected areas in Rajapalayam region, said the district received 204 mm of rainfall between March 14 and 21 against the average of 30 mm for March. The Collector promised the villagers of Mudugudi and Desigapuram high-level bridges in place of causeways that were often flooded during the rainy season.

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam founder Vijayakant said slum dwellers and farmers were the most affected.

Relief work should be expeditiously carried out and farmers given solatium. He urged his party members to provide relief materials to the affected.

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