Toll touches 87, Tamil Nadu limping back to normalcy

All schools and colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts will remain closed till Nov 22

Tamil Nadu was today slowly limping back to normalcy with abatement of heavy rains in almost all districts, even as the death toll in flooding and other related incidents climbed to 87.

All schools and colleges in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts will remain closed till November 22 as a precautionary measure, an official announcement here said.

Authorities continued relief operations in flood-hit areas to provide succour to those affected. Medical camps were also being held state-wide and 55,000 people have already been screened, a senior official said.

In the worst-affected Kancheepuram district, life was inching towards a semblance of normalcy, though many areas remained waterlogged.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today held a review meeting to take stock of the situation and announced a solatium of Rs four lakh each to the next of kin of eight more persons who died due to drowning, wall collapse and electrocution.

One person each died due to drowning in Krishnagiri, Chennai and Vellore and three due to wall collapse in Vellore, Kanchipuram and Villupuram.

Two were killed due to electrocution in Chennai and Kanchipuram.

With rains abating in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram districts, water levels receded drastically from subways, arterial roads and submerged neighbourhoods, bringing a huge sigh of relief to residents.

"I have ordered officials to enumerate the damages to crops, houses, hutments and loss of cattle and boats," the CM said, according to an official statement.

Stating that compensation would be given to farmers after assessment, she said officials have been asked to carry out speedy disbursal of relief for damage to categories like hutments.

She detailed rescue and relief efforts by multiple State and Central agencies, including Army, NDRF, Coast Guard, Police and revenue authorities and said people were safely evacuated.

In Kanchipuram, 16,613 people were evacuated by 133 boats and 116 special camps were functioning in the district, where 34,426 have been housed.