Kovai residents in distress after block in Rajavaikal canal leads to inundation

The residents of Palanisamy Colony in Ponnaiyarajapuram were forced to spend a harrowing sleepless night after water entered into their house from the flooded canal. For a while, the residents were clueless about how the sewage mixed water flooded their locality. Continuous rain over the last few days has filled up most of the tanks, which were linked to each other in Coimbatore. The surplus water from Krishnampathi tank has flown into the already full Muthannakulam near Ponnaiyarajapuram. Its water in-turn runs into the Big Tank in Ukkadam through Rajavaikal.

However, due to a block caused by garbage and hyacinth at a bridge on the course of the canal, water overflowed into the residential locality causing huge distress. Caught unaware in the middle of the night, the residents rushed out of their houses along with their children. The harried residents claimed that several of their household valuables, books and electronic items were damaged in the flood. They worked out all through the night evicting water using buckets.

On receiving information, the Corporation then got into action to remove the block and stagnated water from the neighbourhood. Once the block in the canal was cleared by pressing machinery, the water in the residential neighbourhood began to drain out. Residents claimed that encroachments along Rajavaikal should be removed to ensure that water moves without any hindrance.