Heavy rains lashed Puducherry and its suburbs on Monday throwing normal life out of gear and inundating low-lying areas.
Several stretches on Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kamaraj Salai and Indira Gandhi square were flooded leading to water clogging. The rain resulted in power disruptions in several parts of the town.
Holiday for schools
Due to heavy rains, the government has declared holiday on Tuesday for schools, including private institutions.
Minister for Public Works A. Namassivayam held a meeting with officials from various line departments at the PWD office here on the preparedness, given the experience of inundation in low-lying areas in the previous years.
Mr Namassivayam told reporters that the government has put in place adequate measures to face the north east monsoon.
The Government had floated tenders to the tune of ₹3.69 crore to dredge all major canals running to a length of 147 km in and around the city to prevent flooding. The dredging work will commence in the next two days. The PWD has been directed to keep pumpsets to flush water in low-lying areas, he said. The administration has taken steps to clear timber and repair roads. Over 1,500 workers from the PWD and the Local Administration Department have been pressed into service to take up relief work.
A control room has been set up at the Local Administration Department. People in distress could access the control room by dialling 2336396 or 1077. Efforts have been made to supply protected drinking water and to prevent spread of any disease.