Govt has allotted Rs 100 cr for flood relief, toll 9: CM

Chennai, Mar 22: The Tamil Nadu government has alloted Rs 100 crore to undertake immediate flood relief measures following the heavy rains which have been battering the state for the last one week, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said here today.

Talking to newspersons at the secretariat, Mr Karunanidhi said the decision to provide relief was taken at an emergency cabinet meeting held this morning.

The Chief Minister also informed that Rs one lakh would be given to the families that have lost someone in the rain-related incidents.

The heavy rains have claimed nine lives so far, Mr Karunanidhi also said.

''Relief operations were being undertaken on a warfooting in the rain affected areas,'' he said adding that all the District Collectors were directed to undertake rehabilitation works in their respective areas.

Giving details about the flood situation in the state, Mr Karunanidhi said Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Theni, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvallur and Kanchipuram were the worst affected by rain.

Of the 270 villages affected across the state, ten villages were fully submerged under water, he said.

''So far 40,233 hectares of land was under water,'' he said, adding 202 bridges have been damaged.''

UNI