Assessment of damage by rain in Tamil Nadu

Cuddalore (Tamil Nadu), Dec.6 (ANI): Special officers assigned to survey the rain-affected areas in coastal districts of Tamil Nadu began their evaluation on Monday.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi appointed nine special officers to assess the damages caused by the rains in nine districts across the State.

Special officers have already visited Tanjore, Thiruvarurur, Nagaipattinam, Cuddalore, Ramanthapuram, Villupuram, Tutucorin, Tinrnelveli, Pudukottai, and have reviewed the situation with district collectors.

Officers are personally interacting with the locals to make spot assessment on the extent of damage and also to get first-hand information.

Gagandeep Singh Bedi, one of the nine special officers, visited relief camps in Cuddalore on Monday to interact with the locals.

After inspecting the affected areas, Bedi said a report would be sent to the state's Chief Secretary, and the quantum of assistance evaluated.

"Many villages in the Cuddalore district are severely affected by heavy rains and are completely flooded with water. The rains have led to massive collateral damage including houses being submerged in water, road and crops damage and other infrastructure damage," said Bedi.

"We will be submitting the report to the chief secretary of Tamil Nadu tomorrow. We will then discuss and finalize the estimate of damage done. According to our reports, since the 27th, almost 145 villages in the Cuddalore district are submerged in water," he added.

The estimate for relief packages would be decided after a meeting of Special Officers with Karunanidhi on Tuesday.

In Cuddalore alone, nearly 50,000 acres of paddy have been destroyed due to heavy rain.

Houses and cottages have been inundated by the floodwaters.

The death toll has gone above 150, according to official records. By Jaikumar (ANI)