The incessant rains accompanied by strong winds that lashed parts of Villupuram district on Thursday claimed three lives and caused widespread damages to a number of houses in the coastal hamlet of Bommayarpalayam on the East Coast Road.
S. Rajangam, 46, a farmer of Kuchipalayam was electrocuted in his farm on Wednesday night. The police said when he entered the motor shed in his farm, he came into contact with a snapped wire on the motor and died on the spot.
Lakshmi, 69, wife of Marimuthu of Chinnamudaliar Chavadi, died after the wall of her tiled house fell on her following heavy rains in the early hours of Thursday.
Ayappan, 40, a mechanic of Kottakuppam, was electrocuted after he switched on an electric light in his mechanic shed.
The coastal hamlet of Bommayarpalayam bore the brunt of the inclement weather with many houses along the coast completely damaged due to the intrusion of sea water.
Several coconut trees were also uprooted damaging the houses.
Good inflow
Heavy rain continued to lash Cuddalore and its suburbs on Thursday resulting in copious inflow into tanks and ponds.
On Thursday, Vadakuthu in Cuddalore recorded the maximum of 92 mm followed by Panruti with 86 mm. The Public Works Department authorities are maintaining a close watch on water level in the major water bodies in the district.
In Puducherry, rains abated during the day much to the relief of residents. However, fishermen did not venture out into the sea on Thursday and fishing boats remained anchored at the Thengaithittu fishing harbour.
Worst hit
In Villupuram, Bommayarpalayam hamlet was the worst hit with many houses along the coast completely damaged due to the intrusion of sea water.
Several coconut trees were uprooted damaging the houses. Over 100 fishermen from Bommayarpalayam blocked traffic on the East Coast Road demanding that work on the construction of groynes at Bommayarpalayam be resumed at the earliest. Already a considerable stretch of coastal area had eroded, pulling down the trees and tenements and steps had not been taken to prevent sea incursion, they said.
Fishermen said heavy rains followed by strong winds caused extensive damage to a row of houses in the last two days.
According to Annalakshmi, “We have been facing constant threat of sea incursion and the situation gets worse during monsoon. Most of the residents in Bommayarpalayam living near the coast live in constant fear because we don’t know when we will lose our houses to the water.”
Many left out
Mannadhan, a fisherman, said the panchayat had 450 families and only half of them had been allotted houses at the tsunami quarters.
The rest of the residents continue to stay in the tenements, which are in a precarious condition.
Villupuram Collector L. Subramanian said the administration had identified the beneficiaries and allotted houses for them in the tsunami quarters in 2006. But extended families of the beneficiaries could not claim such facilities. “The houses are in a dilapidated condition and we have asked them to move to the quarters. But the families continue to stay in the houses,” he said.