Fallen trees, big hurdle for restoration efforts

Although drinking water was supplied in a few village panchayats using gensets, the same could not be done in other places due to issues in supplying diesel to the generators.

Water tanker operators are reportedly charging around Rs 600 per house. Similarly, a few operators used mobile generators to pump water from borewells in houses where there was no electricity. They charged close to Rs 500 for the service. At the same time, there have been complaints of water cans, which usually costs Rs 30 each, being sold at Rs 200 in Thanjavur and Pudukkottai districts.

In Vedaranyam and nearby villages like Kodiyakarai, Arukattuthurai, Vellappallam where Gaja made landfall, life was totally affected. Locals claimed that over 1,000 houses and fishing boats were damaged. Over 2,000 trees are said to have fallen in and around Vedaranyam, with access to it being cut off.

Despite 60 per cent of the buses operating in Nagapattinam district, services in Nagapattinam-Vedaranyam, Tiruthuraipoondi-Vedaranyam and Nagapattinam-Tiruthuraipoondi sectors did not resume as these stretches were affected the most.

Villagers of Samanthampettai, a fishing hamlet, resorted to a protest around 12.30 pm on Saturday demanding road connectivity. “No official has visited our village till evening. Though a few people have been staying in the relief camps, the officials did not turn up to assess the damage here,” K Kannan, a local said.

Similarly, in Thanjavur, the coastal areas of Adirampattinam, Peravurani, Sethubachathiram, Madukkur were badly affected. Many houses in Peravurani was completely submerged, while many villages in the area are inaccessible as trees are yet to be cleared. “More than 80 per cent of trees in the area have fell down. We cannot do anything until the relief teams reach here,” K Mohammed, a resident of Peravurani said.

Villagers resorted to road blockade at Sethubavachathiram demanding officials to immediately visit the area and commence the relief work.

As the officials found it difficult to arrange for food to the people moved to camps, others stepped to offer voluntary service. The administration of Neelakanda Pillayar temple in Peravurani has arranged for food, besides providing facilities to recharge batteries and UPS using the temple generator.

Meanwhile, the Tiruchy district administration has estimated that 40 houses and 1570 electric poles were damaged, while 9,300 trees were uprooted. The restoration works would continue for at least one week. Power supply to the Manapparai block, which is the most affected area in district, would be restored after four days, officials said.