Date:01/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/01/stories/2008120155280600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Evacuation continues in Tiruvaur

Special Correspondent

Tiruvarur: Evacuation of people from marooned villages continued in Tiruvarur district on Sunday.

According to J. Abdula Jaffer, District Fire Officer (in-charge), Tiruvarur, nearly 600 people from Therkukolachi, Vadakkukolachi, Devamangalam and Kuthapakarai villages in Valangaiman taluk were evacuated and moved to safer places. Similar operations continue in Muthupettai, Kodavasal, Tiruvarur and Thiruthuraipoondi.

Meanwhile, Dairy Development Minister U. Mathivanan and Collector M. Chandrasekaran visited flood affected areas in Tiruvarur and Thiruthuraipoondi on Sunday.

According to the Collector,four lakh people were staying in 803 relief camps. A total of 25,030 houses were fully damaged. One hundred and eighty cattle have been lost. Paddy crop on 1,35,000 hectares have been submerged. Horticulture crops on 474 hectares have been damaged.

S. Ranganathan, Secretary, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association, said that while people affected were moved to safer places and food was given. Breaches in the canals remain unattended. There were five major breaches in Baminiyar. Similarly there were many breaches in Korayar and Vennar. PWD engineers should attend to them immediately to avoid flooding, Mr. Ranganathan said.