Heavy rains lash Delta: 7 killed, 50,000 acres of paddy damaged

Thiruchirapalli

According to sources, the heavy rains lashed in the region with an average of 20 cm rainfall in each district. Official sources said that Nagapattinam received 23 cm while Tiruvarur received 11 cm with the maximum rainfall at Thiruthuraipoondi with 219 mm.

Due to the impact of the heavy downpour, Thanjavur had witnessed collapse of several houses and a couple identified as Kuppusamy (70) and Yasotha (65) residing at Sivajothi Nagar died on the spot after their house collapsed and Sarathambal (70), resident of Chakkarasamantham near Thanjavur died after the wall collapsed.

Similarly, Sanjana (10) from Nathan village in Cuddalore died in a wall collapse and Dhana Mayil (55), from Periyakattu Palayam in Cuddalore died after the wall of her neighbour’s house collapsed.

Meanwhile, A Sarath Kumar (30) from Kollidam in Mayiladuthurai district was electrocuted and Sivapackiyam (60) from Arungal village in Ariyalur also accidentally touched a live wire near her house and was electrocuted.

Water entered paddy fields due to breaches in Thanjavur Konakadungalaru and Agniyaru and nearly 20,000 acres ready for harvest has been inundated. Thanjavur Collector M Govinda Rao monitored the plugging of the breaches. Similarly, 30,000 acres were submerged in Nagapattinam. Farmers claimed that the heavy rains had damaged the samba as well as Thalady across the Delta.

Water enters Chidambaram temple after 45 years

A downpour of 34 cm in a day on Friday flooded many parts of Chidambaram, including the world famous Chidambaram Nataraja Temple. Rain water entered the outer prakaram of the temple and stood for a height of nearly four feet on the temple premises. Sources blame the blocks in drain canals around the temple for the stagnation of water. Temple sources said that such inundation has happened on the temple nearly after 45 years and they urged the Municipal Corporation take steps to drain the rainwater out immediately.