Chennai: A day after Cyclone Fengal battered the Northern Villupuram district which received a record 50 cms of rains, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday
visited it, distributed relief materials and also assured to provide compensation to those
affected after estimating the damages.
He also said the state government will write a detailed letter to the Centre listing out the
damages caused by the Cyclone in Tamil Nadu and also urge it to depute a Central team
immediately to assess the damages caused by the rain fury.
Talking to reporters after ascertaining the damages with the Ministers, deputed for relief
works and the district officials, he said unprecedented rains had occurred in the district
and several areas were flooded.
It has been raining still in some places. “Once the rain stops completely, we will assess
the damages, including crop damages, and provide necessary compensation”, he added.
Stating that unprecedented rainfall has taken place in Villupuram, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi,
Tiruvannamalai and other districts, he said rescue teams were sent to these districts for
relief works.
He said a total of a total of 18 NDRF and SDRF teams compirising 493 personnel were
sent to Villupuram, Cuddalore and Tiruvannamalai for rescue, relief and rehabilitation
works.
He also said that 7 teams of NDRF comprising 407 personnel and eight SDRF teams
(total 15 teams) were sent to Villupuram two teams (56 personnel) were deputed to
Cuddalore, one team with 30 personnel for Tiruvannamalai were sent.
He said a total of 7,876 people were housed in 174 relief camps where all basic amenities
including food, drinking water and medical facilities were provided.
Observing that though rains have abated in coastal districts, it has been still raining in
interior districts like Tiruvannamalai where a special team headed by senior IAS officer
Ansul Mishra was deputed to speed up and expedite the relief works.
On crop damages, Mr Stalin said standing paddy crops were submerged Villupuram,
Kallakurichi and Tiruvannamalai districts.
“As per the preliminary estimates, crops in about 1,29,000 acres have been damaged.
Once the rain stopped and water receded, proper estimates will be done and necessary compensation will be definitely provided to the affected people”, he added.
He also said that on his way to Villuppuram he spoke to senior Ministers deputed to the
Cyclone hit Cuddalore, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri (where Uthangarai recorded 51 cms
of rains till 1830 hrs this morning), districts and Collectors and enquired about the present
situation and urged them to take all steps to restore normalcy at the earliest.
