19 persons killed in two days in rain related incidents in TN

Chennai, Nov 11: As many as 19 persons had been killed in the last two days in various rain-related incidents including floods in Tamil Nadu, the government said on Wednesday and announced a total relief of Rs 76 lakh to their families.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa condoled the death of the 19 persons, most of them from Cuddalore district, and announced a relief of Rs four lakh each to the next of kin of the victims.

"I have directed to pay a sum of Rs four lakh each to the families of persons who died in these unfortunate incidents from the Disaster Relief Fund," she said in a statement.

The maximum casualty of 16 persons was reported from Cuddalore, with 15 of them drowning in flood waters and one killed in wall collapse. Jayalalithaa expressed her sympathies with the bereaved family members.

Meanwhile, one person, identified as Palaniappan (65) was killed in Tiruchengode in Namakkal district in a wall-collapse incident in the wee hours of today. Police said that the wall collapsed due to heavy rain and two others who suffered injuries was admitted to a government hospital.

Various parts of the state received good rain, with Ambur (Vellore) recording 8 cm, followed by Yercaud (Salem) 6 cm, according to rainfall statistics available till 8.30 this morning.

The regional weather office forecast rain or thundershower at many places over Tamil Nadu tomorrow.

PTI