NE Monsoon turns vigorous in TN, 9 lives lost

Chennai, Oct 22 (UNI) The North East Monsoon, which set in on October 15, has turned vigorous with the Weather Office forecasting widespread rainfall for the next 48 hours even as the heavy showers claimed nine lives in Tamil Nadu.

While seven people were killed in two separate wall collapse incidents in Tirunelveli and Kancheepuram Districts, one person was electrocuted when he came into contact with a live wire at Thiruvanmiyur in the city.

The State Government announced a solatium of Rs one lakh to the families of those killed in rain-related incidents.The government also declared holidays for schools tomorrow in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur Districts.

In other districts, the collectors would assess the situation and declare holidays for schools after reviewing the situation, the release said.

Local Administration Minister M K Stalin held a review meeting at the Secretariat today and constituted a 15-member team of IAS officers to monitor the extent of damage caused by rainfall in the city and its suburbs and undertake immediate relief works.

The Chief Secretary had already instructed the district collectors to be in a state of readiness to take up relief works and meet any eventuality.

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