Relief efforts on war footing in flood-hit Madurai: CM Stalin

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday said that all efforts were being made on a war footing to restore normalcy in flood-hit Madurai and surroundings.

In a message posted on the micro-blogging site ‘X’ on Saturday, Stalin said, “I deputed State Registration Minister P Moorthy and IT Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan to engage in rescue and relief works as soon I learnt about the damages caused in many areas due to the heavy rain in Madurai district yesterday. Also, I contacted the District Collector of Madurai over the phone and learned about the situation on the ground, and advised her to take necessary action.”

The State Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Disaster Management are continuously monitoring the works. All operations are being carried out on a war footing to restore normalcy to Madurai and surrounding areas, the CM said and added that Giant electric motors, engineers and workers have been dispatched from nearby municipalities to drain rainwater at residential areas in the temple town.

Citing the medical camps set up in places there, the CM said that the people of the affected areas have been safely accommodated in three camps with necessary facilities and the monitoring officer of the district was sent to Madurai on Friday.

On Friday night, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin reviewed the flood situation in Madurai through video call.

Meanwhile, seeking to downplay the extent of damage caused by the torrential rain in Madurai, CM said that rainwater had been cleared overnight and water entered houses in only eight places in temple town.

Reacting to media queries at party headquarters Anna Arivalayam about the government’s response to continuous downpours in Madurai, Stalin said, “It did not rain continuously. It rained only yesterday. Rainwater has been cleared overnight. The two ministers of the district have camped there and they are engaged in (rescue and relief) works. Rainwater entered the houses only in eight places. There is no other problem.”

Citing the met forecast suggesting rains today (Saturday), the Chief Minister said that preventive measures were being taken in tune with the forecast and officers in charge have been deputed from Chennai. “We have advised (officials) to undertake all efforts instantly. Relief works are under way there,” he added. Asked if the met department forecast rain in any other district, mainly Coimbatore which has been reeling under the impact of rains, the CM said, “There is no such forecast. Only southern districts are receiving rain.”

On whether plans like in Chennai were being contemplated for Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Madurai, Stalin said that underground drainage projects were being executed in all places by respective municipal corporations and they would decide based on rainfall received.

When asked about Edappadi K Palaniswami’s charge that the government was borrowing to distribute money to women under the Urimai Thogai scheme, the CM said, “He will continue to say so. He has no other job. He wants his name in newspapers. He speaks like this to make his face appear on television frequently. We do not bother about it.”