The death toll in the State due to the continuous rains has risen to 166 and 1,762 heads of cattle have perished, said a government official here on Sunday.
Over 45,000 people have been evacuated to 96 feeding centres in Nagapattinam District on Sunday. Schools and colleges in several districts and schools in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur will remain closed on Monday due to the continuous rains.
On Sunday, ministers, senior officers of the Indian Administrative Service and District Collectors assessed the rain-related damage in Villupuram, Tirunelveli, Rameswaram, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tuticorin and Sivaganga districts and asked the department officials to carry out flood relief works on a war-footing.
The Cabinet will meet on Tuesday. Members of the high-level committee will submit their reports to the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on the adverse impact of rain and the status of relief works being carried out.
As a precautionary measure, the discharge from Veeranam tank and Poondi, Puzhal, Chembarambakkam, Solavaram reservoirs has been increased. Authorities have issued flood alerts to 36 villages near Poondi reservoir. Shiv Das Meena, the State Government designated monitoring officer to assess the monsoon induced havoc in Nagapattinam district, told reporters that over 498 cattle and eight human casualities were reported and compensations to the tune of Rs.21 lakh were disbursed as on date.
S.S. Jawahar inspected the rain affected areas in Villupuram district and said in the last one month the district received additional rains of more than 24 per cent that claimed the lives of 28 people and 21 cattle. It also damaged 1,146 houses, destroyed agriculture crops in 1,558 hectares and submerged 290 hectares of horticultural crops. Those who lost their lives in Villupuram included 10 male, 6 female and 12 children. On behalf the government, solatium has been given to 20 persons.
Surjit K. Chaudhary said the damages to the roads and ponds in Tirunelveli district were estimated to be around Rs.100 crore. The rain claimed three lives, eight cattle, damaged 44 houses fully and 106 houses partially.
“As a relief measure, we have provided Rs.5.18 lakh, 1,850 kgs of rice, 182 litres of kerosene, 80 dhotis and 80 saris,” he said.
