The search and rescue teams recovered two more bodies on Tuesday, taking the total number of flash flood victims to six in Tirupur, while the search is on for three more bodies. Officials confirmed that a total of nine persons were washed away as against the initial reports of seven persons missing.
Officials on Tuesday clarified that the body recovered late on Monday was identified on Tuesday to be that of Bhuvaneswari, daughter of Manoharan. Bhuvaneswari's sister Gnanambal's body was recovered on Monday. The bodies recovered on Monday were that of Gnanambal, Dilshad Begum, wife of Abudaheer, and Shakeela Begum, daughter of Abudaheer. Bodies recovered on Tuesday were that of Nilama Nisha, Bhuvaneswari (recovered late on Monday and identified on Tuesday) besides Mani alias Sadasivam. Search is on for bodies of Abudaheer, his son Abdullah and Shanmugam.
Superintendent of Police, Tirupur, V. Balakrishnan said people living along the banks of water courses and low-lying areas were evacuated without any problem as there was continuous sunshine and absence of rain. Water level receded substantially helping the rescue teams in their mission.
Tirupur Collector M. Mathivanan said more than 6,500 persons belonging to 2,100 families were being given food at the ten temporary special relief centres. Essential commodities required for providing food for flood victims at the relief centres was released using the discretionary powers, Mr.Mathivanan said. As a matter of precaution, police and fire and rescue services personnel are on standby mode.
Meanwhile, the official machinery faced an irate group of flood victims who staged a road blockade at Periya Thottam on Kangeyam Road, Kottai Mariamman Temple on Dharapuram–Kangeyam Road and Thillai Nagar on Dharapuram Road. The agitators demanded cleaning up of the slush and filth brought in by floodwater into their areas and houses.
They demanded relief and restoration measures on a war footing. Such road blockades were reported at Kumaran Silai and Usha Theatre area. After the police held talks with the agitators and assured immediate relief measures, the road blockade was lifted. Tirupur South MLA K. Thangavel continued the relief measures for the second day on Tuesday.
Tirupur Mayor A. Visalakshi, Deputy Mayor S. Gunasekaran, Corporation Commissioner R. Jayalakshmi along with North MLA M.S.M. Anandan visited the areas worst-hit: PKR Colony, PVR Nagar, Pudukaddu, Dr.Ambedkar Nagar, Poompuhar Nagar, Thillai Nagar and huts along the Noyyal banks.
Ms.Visalakshi said 22 water lorries and 19 tipper lorries were pressed into service to remove rainwater, slush and filth brought in by the flood. As many as 1,300 conservancy workers were working round the clock to set right the flood hit areas.
Collector M. Mathivanan provided 10 lorries and 120 workers from the district administration and town panchayats for assisting the Corporation to complete the works on a war footing in all the 13 areas hit by the flood. The Corporation pressed into service 20 water lorries from private operators to provide potable drinking water. Six health teams were also pressed into service, she said.
