FLOOD

IN

THOOTHUKUDI

Nearly 20 localities in Tuticorin were flooded on Monday and

several houses inundated following rains on Sunday night.People
could not move out of their houses.Residents of Anthoniyarpuram,
one of the worst-affected localities, Korampallam,
Maravanmadam, Diraviapuram, Soreespuram, Pudukottai,
Thiruvika Nagar, Indira Nagar, Postal and Telegraph Colony, Rajiv
Nagar, Madathur, Athimarapatti, Mullakkadu, Muthaiyapuram,
Kalangarai, Kootampuli, Kulaiyankarisal, Muthammal Colony and
Adhiparasakthi Nagar experienced hardships after flash
floods.Flood water rose to waist level in parts of Anthoniyarpuram,
Maravamadam and Diraviapuram.Raja (14) and Ganesan (19) of
Soreespuram, who were washed away, were rescued, sources
said.Some people were evacuated in boats by Indian Coast Guard,
Coastal Security Group and Fire and Rescue Services personnel,
but many others did not leave their houses, S. Manickam, a
resident of Anthoniyarpuram, said.Since waterbodies had not been
desilted at regular intervals and had been encroached upon,
residents of many areas were suffering.Encroachments should be
removed immediately, A. Muthupackiam of Maravanmadam
said.Vehicular traffic on Tuticorin-Palayamkottai four-lane was
suspended as water flooded the road near Anthoniyarpuram around
8 a.m. and inundated nearby areas, including District Employment
Office, Collectorate and District Industries Centre,paralysing work
in offices.Office-goers and Collectorate employees could not reach
Palayamkottai Road.Tuticorin-bound buses from Tirunelveli took a
diversion for a while, but traffic on Tiruchendur Road was also cut
off since 4 p.m. following floods over the stretch at Mullakadu.
Besides, bus services to interior places such as Chekarakudi,
Sawyerpuram.

Vagaikulam and Srivaikuntam were suspended since these

localities were flooded, sources added.Bus services resumed from
Tuticorin to Tirunelveli on the four-lane (Palayamkottai road) in
the evening. Buses bound for Tirunelveli and Nagercoil started
plying after 7 p.m., TNSTC sources said.Collector M. Ravikumar
said that since water flow increased, food was ferried to houses by
the relief corps.Heavy rains occurred in Kadambur, Kayathar and
its surroundings, causing flash floods.Six reception centres were
set up to extend relief to the victims, he said.The Collector, along
with Special Monitoring Officer Kumar Jeyanth, Deputy Inspector
General of Police, Tirunelveli Range, T.S. Anbu, and
Superintendent of Police Ashwin M. Kotnis inspected floodaffected areas at Anthoniyarpuram.Deputy Superintendent of
Police, CSG (Tuticorin), N.K. Stanley Jones, said that 92 victims
from Korampallam and Anthoniyarpuram had been evacuated by
boats.Special train services between Tuticorin and Tirunelveli had
been sought and this demand was placed before Tuticorin MP J.
Jeyasingh Thiyagaraj Natterjee, said M. Piramanayagam, secretary,
Tuticorin District Passengers Welfare Association.