Crops on 1.42 lakh hectares submerged

Crops cultivated on 1.42 lakh hectares remain submerged in Madurai, Villupuram, Dharmapuri, Thanjavur, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Ariyalur, Permabalur and Dindigul, according to a State government release.

While reviewing the relief works in various districts, the Chief Minister said the crop damage would be assessed after water receded.

He also announced Rs.2 lakh each to the families of 103 persons killed in the rain that lashed the State. He announced Rs.2,000 each for the huts damaged in the rain.

Officials told the Chief Minister that 301 families in Tiruvallur, Ramanathapuram, Erode, Madurai and Cuddalore districts had been evacuated and the government was distributing 10 lakh food packets to them everyday.