Nearly 2,000 huts and 4,000 houses in Kanyakumari district have been affected by the recent spell of heavy rain.
Citing the report submitted by District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo to the State government, an official release stated on Friday that flood waters had started receding. After discussions with senior officers, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi instructed that relief of Rs.5,000 per hut would be given. In respect of partially affected huts and heavily damaged houses, Rs.2,500 and Rs.5,000 per dwelling unit would be released.
The District Collector has been advised to submit a report immediately to the government on the execution of relief works and the extent of damage.
Senior officer Sunil Paliwal has been appointed to monitor the progress of relief work, the release said.
According to a report of the Meteorological Department, the district, as a whole, recorded 87 cm [during October 1-December 8] against the normal of 40 cm, an excess of 124 per cent.
In the week ending on Wednesday (December 8), it received 14 cm against the normal of 2.3 cm, an excess of 534 per cent.
Rail traffic
Rail traffic between Kanyakumari and Thiruvananthapuram was affected throughout the day following a landslide on the track at Palliyadi near Thuckalay early on Friday.
According to sources, the restoration work, being undertaken expeditiously, would be completed soon. A landslide at Kunnamparai near Palliyadi initially spread to a length of 40 metres, thereby affecting train service.
Tourism Minister N. Suresh Rajan along with the Collector and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister (monitoring) K. Allaudin visited the flood-affected areas in different parts of the district to ensure the distribution of relief materials.
