TN receives record rainfall in March: Minister

Chennai, Mar 26 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Local Administration Minister M K Stalin today said the state had received a record rainfall of 158.03 mm from March ten to 23 this year, which was eight times more than the average rainfall of 19.9 mm.

Replying to a special calling attention motion in the state assembly given notice of by members of various political parties to discuss the damage caused by the recent floods, he said from March ten, widespread rains had been reported in southern districts of Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram.

The period from March to May was considered as the summer season during which there would not be much rains. But the state received an unprecedented rainfall of 158.03 mm from March 10 to 23, which was higher than the average rainfall of 19.9 mm recorded in March.

Giving details, Mr Stalin said Tirunelveli received 358 mm of rain, Ramanathapuram (315.39 mm), Nagapattinam (295.23 mm), Tuticorin (253.86 mm), Virudhunagar (250.11 mm), Sivaganga (246.51 mm), Kanniyakumari (244.45 mm), Nilgiris (225.55 mm), Theni (223.45 mm) and Cuddalore received 220.90 mm.

Though there were widespread rains in other districts, Kattumannarkoil in Cuddalore district received a record 236 mm of rain on a single day on March 12, followed by Aanaikaranchathiram in Nagpattinam (226 mm on March 13) and R S Mangalam in Ramnad (210 mm on March 21).

Observing that the rains had caused extensive damage, Mr Stalin, quoting reports received from districts, said 3,097 villages were affected following the rains and 77 of them were inundated.

A total of 10,278 people, who were affected, were housed in 41 relief camps and provided food packets.

Mr Stalin said 24 people have died so far in rain-related incidents and loss of cattle was put at 804. Of the total 5,782 huts damaged, 2,106 were fully damaged and 3,676 partially damaged.

He said as per the preliminary estimates, paddy crops in 47,257 hectares, edible and pulses crops in 2,79,143, horticultural crops in 62,882 hectares and other crops to an extent of 41,068 hectares were damaged.

''In all, crops in a total of 4,30,350 hectares (10,62,965 acres) were damaged'', he said and added that 9,863 km of roads, 945 small bridges and 747 tanks and canals were also damaged in the rains.

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