Toll mounts to 52 as kids drown, crops under water

Chennai, Dec 21 (UNI) The toll in rain-related incidents in Tamil Nadu in the last four days rose to 52, with two more deaths reported from Coimbatore District this evening.

A report said two children aged four drowned after they fell into a pit filled with water at Vaigai Nagar near Pollachi making the toll rise up to 52.

However, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi this evening put the death toll at 49 so far.

Talking to reporters here after returning from New Delhi where he attended the National Developmental Council (NDC) Meeting and the Chief Ministers' Conference, Mr Karunanidhi said 90 heads of cattle were killed and as many as 4,408 huts damaged. About 22,500 people in low-lying areas had been evacuated to safer places.

Crops on 85,253 hectare of land was submerged. Nevertheless the heavy rainfall has helped increasing water levels in various reservoirs, including Amaravathi, Chembarambakkam and Tirumurthi, more than 90 per cent of the storage capacity.

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