33 die in rain-related incidents in TN

Sixteen people lost their lives due to incidents of electrocution and wall collapse in several parts of the state over the last two days.

Gusty winds with a speed of 75 km per hour lashed parts of the state, uprooting many trees and power transmission lines in Nagapattinam district.

Met officials here said that the rain would continue for the next 24 hours.

Chennai also witnessed strong winds between 45-55 km.

Meanwhile, an official press release here today said 64 people died since October 15, 2008, when the North East monsoon hit the state.

Under calamity relief fund, the state government had announced financial assistance of Rs one lakh each to the families of the deceased, Rs 10,000 each to those who lost their cattle and Rs 2,000 to people whose huts were partially or fully damaged. State government has deputed senior IAS officials to monitor the relief operations.

A total of 64,531 people from 45 taluks and 324 revenue villages respectively have been affected by the rains, sources said.

Over 1500 people were accommodated in 17 flood relief camps and 20,700 food packets were distributed to the affected people.

About 50,000 hectare of crops were submerged in the delta areas such as Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and neighbouring districts of the state.

Normal life was thrown out of gear in Chennai as heavy rains lashed the city. Most of the roads were under knee-deep water and people in low lying areas moved to safer places, where the Chennai Corporation provided them food.

Private sector and government employees were asked to leave early. Several trains were running late and most telephone lines were not functioning as rain water entered the underground cables.

A report from Rameswaram said that winds with a speed of more than 60 km lashed the coast even as “Number 5 Storm Cone” signal was hoisted at Pamban this afternoon.

Rain water inundated most parts of the island town, officials said.

The four fishermen reported missing from Pudukottai district were spotted in Rameswaram coast and were safe.

However, two others from Mallipattinam in Thanjavur and four from Rameswaram are still missing, they said.

Trains leaving Rameswram were cancelled today, Southern railway sources said.

A Nagapattinam report said Cauvery river breached near Mayiladuthurai. Over 70,000 hectares of paddy crops were submerged. Some 10,000 people were shifted to safer places and lodged in 34 relief centres.

Heavy rains in the catchment areas of the reservoirs in Chennai had brought in copious inflows and the present storage position could meet the city’s water requirements till October next.

A report from Rameswaram said winds with speeds of more than 60 km lashed the coast even as “Number 5 Storm Cone” signal was hoisted at Pamban this afternoon. Rain water inundated most parts of the island town, officials said.

They said power supply to Rameswaram, Kodiakarai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and delta districts, including Thanjavur and Tiruvarur, have been disrupted and would be restored only after the storm crossed the shore.

The officials said vast stretches of crops have been submerged in coastal areas while people in villages along the coastal districts have been moved to safer places and accommodated in schools and storm shelters.

The four fishermen reported missing from Pudukottai district were spotted in Rameswaram coast and were safe.

However, two others from Mallipattinam in Thanjavur and four from Rameswaram are still missing, they said.

Reports from Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam said that vast expanses of paddy fields were submerged in flood waters. In Tiruvarur alone, four lakh acres of crops were submerged. Most shops in Cuddalore, Rameswaram, Nagapattinam, Kodiakarai remained shut, it said.

Roadside trees were uprooted in the coastal districts including Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Tuticorin and Nagapattinam, affecting vehicular traffic in some stretches.