Date:27/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112756790500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Nagapattinam

Four killed in Nagapattinam district

Shyam Ranganathan

80,000 people have been evacuated; the Cauvery breaches at two places

— Photo: Special Arrangement

UNDER WATER: Roads were submerged in many parts of the Nagapattinam district. A scene near Vellapallam.

NAGAPATTINAM: Four people were killed and 80,000 people evacuated to government shelters, as heavy rain and strong winds announced the arrival of Cyclone Nisha in the district on Wednesday.

It was expected to cross the coast between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam on Wednesday night, officials said.

Two fishermen were reported missing near Pazhaiyar after they went to rescue their boat.

Seven people were injured in different incidents and 65 houses were damaged. Seventeen head of cattle and other animals died.

The district recorded 2,145 mm of rain until 8.30 a.m. on Wednesday, as the low pressure area formed to the south-east of Vedaranyam strengthened into a cyclonic storm and moved to 50 km from the coast.

Officials of the Nagapattinam port hoisted a Storm Warning Signal No. 7 by noon.

Vedaranyam, which recorded 333 mm of rain, was severely affected. The district received 662 mm between 8.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mayiladuthurai, Sirkazhi and Tarangambadi were also severely affected. The road to Sembodai was flooded.

The Cauvery breached at Tarangambadi and Mayiladuthurai, and the Mudikondan near Tirumarugal, as more than 74,000 hectares of samba and thaladi crops were affected by the excess water that overflowed the canals. Farmers of Marudhur, worried about the submersion of their crops, tried to create a breach for the water to flow through, by damaging the road, but were sent back by the police.

Collector M. Jayaraman visited the rain-affected areas along the Nagapattinam-Vedaranyam road and asked officials to shore up roads that were in danger of collapse. Water flowed into the roads, and officials said the situation worsened because of the rough sea which sapped the efficacy of the drainage system.

Mr. Jayaraman also visited relief centres at Vedaranyam and Nagapattinam. He asked the officials to ensure sufficient supply of food and other commodities.

The breach at Tirumarugal was handled effectively, while officials were struggling to control the breach near Mayiladuthurai. The Collector instructed the officials to plug the breaches on a war footing.

More than 225 km of State highways and 370 km of other roads were damaged. The saltpans at Vedaranyam were severely affected.

Tsunami settlements in the low-level areas were flooded, and the Collector visited the Saveriarkoil settlement. Residents of Sellur complained that water was standing up to their waist in their settlement.

Leena Nair, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Secretary, the zonal officer in charge of the district, arrived at Nagapattinam at 7.30 p.m. and reviewed the situation with the Collector and senior officials.