Forty-four persons have died in rain-related incidents over the past few days in Tamil Nadu even as the state government on Tuesday stepped up operations to move people living in low-lying areas to safer places.
Condoling the deaths, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said in a statement that a solatium of Rs 2 lakh would be paid to the kin of the deceased. She said seven persons were killed due to flash floods at Tirupur on Monday.
People displaced temporarily from their homes there have been lodged in 10 relief centres and the district collector has been instructed to ensure adequate facilities for them such as food and water, Jayalalithaa said.
The affected families will be provided 10 kg rice, a dhoti and saree, one litre kerosene oil and Rs 1000 cash assistance, she said. With the rains abating, authorities are taking steps to pump out water from flooded areas.
In Erode district, a hosiery hub, rains over the past few days have hit textile business. With the Noyyal river in spate, people living on the banks have been asked to move to safer places.
Paddy, sugarcane, turmeric and banana crops in several acres have been destroyed. Chennimalai, 25 km from Erode, home to ten thousand powerlooms and five thousand handlooms besides 60 textile-dyeing units, has been hit as no units were functioning due to the rains, officials said.
