Relief and rehabilitation measures are in full swing in Cuddalore district with several NGOs complementing the official machinery in delivering essential items to residents in the flood-affected areas, even as rains are unrelenting in the district.
Panruti in Cuddalore district recorded a maximum of 13 cm rainfall in the last 24 hours ending at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday. While Neyveli registered 11 cm, Cuddalore recorded 10 cm rainfall on Sunday.
Major roads restored
for traff
Most major roads have been restored for traffic and teams from various line departments are working on a war-footing.
Collector S. Suresh Kumar said the administration had taken all necessary precautionary measures to avoid recurrence of damage in view of unabated rains across the district since November 9.
People living in low-lying areas have been evacuated to relief centres and boats have been engaged to rescue people who are marooned due to floods.
Relief centres, cyclone shelters opened
Mr. Kumar said that as many as 133 relief centres have been opened and over 1.30 lakh food packets distributed to the affected villages from seven community kitchens and 4 mass kitchens in the district.
As many as 28 cyclone shelters have been opened in the coastal areas.
Rural Development Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi said Army teams conducted a recce of the affected areas and would be ready in the event of any exigency.
Aavin has supplied over 100 tonnes of milk powder for distribution to children and women accommodated in relief centres and the affected areas through anganwadis, Mr. Bedi said.
He said the Met department had predicted rains for the next two days.
On high alert
Though Cuddalore district received lower rainfall on Sunday, the official machinery is on high alert.
With the inflow in the Vellar river reaching nearly 60,000 cusecs, the administration has shifted people living in low-lying areas to safer places, he said.
Voluntary organisations and NGOs have started assembling at relief centres in Cuddalore. Volunteers from Coimbatore-based Isha foundation are camping in the district to distribute food and relief material to the flood affected.
Captain Prathaban of Isha Foundation said lorry loads of relief materials had been dispatched from various districts to Cuddalore.
Around 14 tonnes of packed food, water bottles, 10 tonnes of rice and blankets have been distributed to the flood hit so far, he said.
Organisations too join
Several organisations like the Puducherry Heritage Round Table 167 have been distributing food packets in the affected pockets.
