It’s raining woes

Showers in TN continue due to depression in Bengal; 14 dead

Chennai:

Intense showers battered Chennai and other northern regions of Tamil Nadu on Thursday while the depression over Bay of Bengal crossed coast by evening near here.

As many as 14 people were killed in rain related incidents in the state, standing crops were submerged, trees uprooted and over a 1,000 tenements, mostly huts suffered damage across Tamil Nadu.

The heavy rains and release of surplus from dams, a total of about 13,000 cusecs of water here, transformed several areas in the metropolis and other northern regions of Tamil Nadu into a virtual, large water body as streets swirled with deluge and trash.

Power cut was effected in several regions considering safety. The rains also caused damage to roads and causeways. The flooding witnessed here for the past four days threw normal life out of gear as closed, inundated subways and traffic diversions gave people a harrowing time.

With the passage of the depression on Thursday evening, there was a let up in rains in most northern Tamil Nadu regions and people could be seen visiting local markets to buy essentials after confining themselves to their homes for most part of the day.

Till date in the ongoing monsoon season, 157 head of cattle have died, 1,146 huts and 237 houses have been affected in rain related incidents across the state.

In view of water-logging, suburban train services saw suspensions and delay. The services, however, resumed later.

In respect of flights, though departures continued suspended arrivals resumed as the depression faded. Chennai Corporation authorities distributed a total of over 6 lakh food packets to people in affected areas.

Chennai and several other northern regions witnessed heavy rains since Wednesday night and the depression moved close towards the city today, with showers intensifying in several areas. Authorities used heavy duty motors, robotic excavators and deployed full manpower to pump out water, de-clog drains, remove trash and clear uprooted trees. As civic, revenue, public works, police and fire personnel slogged to help people and mitigate flood woes, Chief Minister M K Stalin said he bowed before all government workers involved in relief and rescue operations for their services to the people. “Your selfless services and sacrifice have removed the distress of crores of people,” the CM tweeted. (PTI)