Thoothukudi town and other parts of the coastal district experienced heavy rainfall on Sunday night due to Cyclone Burevi effect. It rained heavily for almost three hours in Thoothukudi town causing inundation at several low lying areas. Normal life was affected for many in the wake of rainfall.
A rescue personnel carries an elderly woman out of a marooned house at Krishna Nagar in Thoothukudi
Madurai:
According to Thoothukudi Collector K Senthil Raj, over 200 people from low-lying areas have been accommodated in four temporary relief shelters. Water from a small pond at Chekkarakudi near Srivaikuntam breached following the downpour and around 120 people were relocated to a shelter and provided with basic facilities.
At Fathima Colony in Thoothukudi, around hundred persons were evacuated to safer places and given floor mats and bed sheets. Two cattle were struck dead by lightning in Pudukottai.
The Thoothukudi Corporation authorities were monitoring de-watering works keenly to restore normalcy. Apart from four sullage tankers existing in the Corporation, 10 more such tankers have been hired from Madurai and Tiruchy Corporations, each with 40 hp capacity.
It also rained heavily at Keela Vaippar in Vilathikulam. However, the highest amount of rainfall of 160 mm was recorded in Maniyachi and 108 mm in Kayathar and 55 mm in Thoothukudi town alone. As part of safety precautions, 15,000 cusecs of water was discharged from Korampallam reservoir through six shutters in Thoothukudi, the Collector said.
Commissioner of Thoothukudi Corporation VP Jeyaseelan said as many as 180 de-watering motor pumps have been utilized so far. Seven areas, including State Bank Colony, Kurinji Nagar and Muthammal Colony are listed as places below mean sea level and de-watering efforts are in full swing, the Commissioner said.
Central team pats Pondy’s Nivar handling
The Central team led by Ashutosh Agnihotri, Joint Secretary, which came to Puducherry to assess the damages caused by the Cyclone Nivar, called on Lt Governor Kiran Bedi at Raj Nivas here on Monday.
According to a Raj Nivas release, the team leader thanked Puducherry administration for having quickly prepared the damages assessment report for the consideration of the Centre. He also appreciated the preparedness of the UT administration and for having faced the natural calamity in a well-coordinated and professional manner.
The Lt Governor thanked the Centre for having deputed the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) team well in time which facilitated the UT administration in restoring normalcy post cyclone in a record time. The LG requested the team to submit their recommendation to the Government of India as early as possible so that the administration avail the financial assistance and carry out the repairs of the damaged roads/culverts/drains etc. It was suggested that the fund could be earmarked specifically for the civil works, which would avoid inundation of low-lying areas in future.
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