CHENNAI: MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Friday demanded that the State government immediately assess the crop losses caused by heavy rains in Theni district, referring to the damage caused by the Mullaiperiyar River in spate.

The senior leader said that Theni district has received the heaviest rainfall in 32 years, leading to flash floods in the streams around Surulipatti, Narayanathevanpatti, Kamayagoundanpatti, and several other villages in the valley.

Intense rainfall in the Western Ghats along the Tamil Nadu–Kerala border led to heavy inflows from the Mullaiperiyar Dam, worsening the situation, he said.

"Paddy crops ready for harvesting, vegetable crops, and plantations in the irrigation belt have been inundated and damaged. Banana and coconut groves have also been submerged in floodwaters, causing severe distress to farmers," the MDMK chief added.

He pointed out that the continuous heavy rainfall over the past few days in the Theni district has caused breaches in irrigation canals, leading to flooding of farmland and the destruction of standing paddy crops ready for harvest.

He urged the State government to assess the crop losses immediately and to provide compensation to affected farmers without delay. He also demanded that the government repair and strengthen damaged canal banks.