Heavy rain puts crops under water in delta districts

Thanjavur, Nov 27: Heavy and incessant rainfall wreaked havoc in delta districts of the State with as many as 2.06 lakh hectare of samba and thaaladi crops officially reported submerged in water and over 38,000 people living in low-lying areas having been evacuated and sheltered in as many as 153 relief centres.

Samba in Thanjavur and thaaladi crops in Thanjavur,Kumbakonam, Thiruvaiyaru, Thiruvidaimarudur and Orathanadu Blocks submerged due to the heavy rainfall.

Collector M S Shanmugam, who visited the water-logged areas across the district, said about 47,000 hectares of samba and thaaladi crops were feared submerged in the district.

''As many as 4,000 people living in low-lying areas were evacuated and have been sheltered at 32 relief centres across the district,'' Mr Shanmugam said.

He, however, claimed the PWD officials had now been deputed to drain water from submerged fields.

The paddy crops were in early stages and would not be affected by the rainfall, he said.

''However, if heavy rainfall continued, some damage may be caused,'' he added.

In Nagapattinam district, 74,200 hectares of samba and thaaladi crops were reported submerged and 24,360 people from coastal areas and low-lying areas evacuated and housed in 78 relief centres across the district, according to Collector M Jayaraman.

''Major breaches in three irrigation canals South Putharu, North Putharu and Mudikondan Aru were reported and plugging works are now in progress. Power supply in many parts of the district has been suspended to prevent electrocution,'' Mr Jayaraman said. In Tiruvarur district, as many as 10,000 people were evacuated and sheltered in 50 relief centres, Collector M Chandrasekaran said.

According to police sources, there was no casualty reported in the district.

UNI