Toll mounts to 16 in rain-battered TN

Chennai, Dec 19 (UNI) The heavy rains battering Tamil Nadu for the last two days, have claimed 16 lives, even as Chief Minister M Karunanidhi directed his ministerial colleagues and district collectors to visit the rain-hit areas and step up relief works. An official release here said 16 people died in rain-related incidents in the state and the Chief Minister, now in Delhi, offered his condolences and announced a solatium of Rs one lakh each to the bereaved families.

Mr Karunanidhi directed his ministerial colleagues and district collectors to immediately visit the rain-affected areas in the state and oversee the relief and rescue operations, the release said.

As the weather office predicted more rains in the next 24 hours with the low pressure over the Bay was likely to intensify into a depression, the Chief Minister advised the officials in the districts, MPs, MLAs and people's representatives to remain vigilant and initiate preventive and rescue operations, wherever necessary, the release said.

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UNI