Madurai Corporation officials have been put on an alert after the Public Works Department began discharging surplus floodwater on Thursday.
It has set up a control room (0452-2531385) to receive complaints. Eight teams comprising engineers and sanitary employees have been set up.
The teams would be placed at different parts of the city. On receiving calls for help from residents, the team that is located nearest would rush, Corporation Commissioner (in-charge), K. Tharpagaraj, said.
Earth movers and recovery vehicles are kept ready.
The teams were placed at Yanaikal Junction, Sellur, Arapalayam, West Zone office, Palanganatham, Shenoy Nagar, East Zone office and Santhapettai.
The Mayor, V.V. Rajan Chellappa, along with officials inspected the Vaigai River where the Corporation has deployed earth movers to remove the water hyacinth. The wild growth was blocking the free flow of flood water through the spans in the causeway.
The Corporation has also put in place four medical teams at Yanaikal, Shenoy Nagar, West Zone office and Santhapettai. Community halls and schools were kept ready to accommodate residents affected by flood water.
Earlier, Mr. Rajan Chellappa inspected various places in marooned areas in Anaiyur, S. Alangulam, Koodal Nagar. He visited the Sri Lankan Refugee camp at Anaiyur which was inundated in at least two-foot water.
The residents of Suganthi Nagar also complained of water submerging the roads for few days now as there were not vent to drain water on the main Road. They demanded that motor pumps being used to drain out water.
The Mayor said that many complaints were being received from the newly-added areas on flooding. All efforts would be taken to drain the water, he said. Mr. Rajan Chellappa also instructed officials to remove encroachments on the drainage channels to ensure free flow of water.
“Besides, temporary solutions for immediate relief for the residents, the officials would work out permanent solutions for this problem,” he said. He added that he had sought additional funds for Madurai Corporation from the Local Administration Minister.
The city police have deployed 15 swimmers along the Vaigai banks for emergency rescue operations. They are equipped with ropes and lifebuoys.
Similarly, the Fire and Rescue Service Personnel, led by the Divisional Fire Officer, K. Karuppiah, have deployed fire tenders at Simmakkal, Goripalayam and Anupanadi, the Station Fire Officer, S. Chezhian, said.
Their commandos, available at the bank, rescued a horse that was trapped in the middle of the flood water. Along with the local youths, they managed to bring the animal to the bank.
