Begin typing your search...
Relief work going on in full swing in Gaja-affected areas
To restore normalcy in the Gaja-hit districts at the earliest, State government departments along with a team from the National Disaster Management are working on a war footing to ensure that basic road connectivity, water and food reach the people. Even the local residents are out on the streets to lend a helping hand and ministers have been camping in all these districts.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
The relief teams equipped with machines and poclains have been working hard to clear the roads by removing fallen trees. “As many as 151 cutting machines, 92 poclains and 28 lorries are involved in road clearance in Nagapattinam district,” said Revenue and Disaster Management Minister RB Udhayakumar who was inspecting relief work in Nagapattinam. He also said that relief teams have been provided with 358 generators to continue work round the clock. Power supply is slowly being restored. Officials have also commenced on enumeration work across the affected districts.
Meanwhile, Health Department teams have been camping in districts and have been ensuring power supply in all GHs and PHCs, especially to prevent spread of contagious diseases. The government also plans to replace new houses for those who lost their homes in the cyclone. “The State will also repair houses that were partially damaged,” Food Minister R Kamaraj said in Tiruvarur after inspection. The Food Minister also said that though the impact of Gaja had been felt in 22 districts, eight districts, mostly from the central region, bore maximum impact. “The government is working hard to restore normalcy in all these districts,” Kamaraj added.
Fisheries minister D Jayakumar who visited the Akkarapettai fishing harbour in Nagapattinam, assured repairing of damaged fishing boats. “We have deputed six teams each led by a deputy director to assess the damages of mechanised boats, country boats, nets. The assessment report will be submitted in a couple of days and based on the report, compensation would be provided,” Jayakumar said.
Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam who visited Tiruvarur on Saturday said that a meeting of officials with all the Department has been organised which would be chaired by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami in which relief measures would be discussed.
Pt Calimere pounded by cyclone; over 50 carcasses found on shore
Not only human beings, but wildlife has also been affected by severe cyclonic storm Gaja in Nagapattinam and sources said that more than 50 animal carcasses have been washed ashore at Mela Vanjiyur near Karaikal on Saturday.
More than 2,000 animals like blackbug, spotted deer, wild boar, horses and other cattle at Point Calimere Wildlife Sancturary at Kodiakarai had reportedly been carried away by the strong gales to the sea waters when they were roaming the beaches of the coastal villages in Arukatuthurai, Peiyakuthagai, and Pushpavanam.
Some had died due to possible heart failures and were found on the villages in Vedaranyam block, while many had been swept by the waves which had intruded several metres inside the shores of Vedaranyam block. They had been found on beaches in areas like TR Pattinam, Pattinachery, Neravy, Karaikal district.
Meanwhile, officials from Karaikal said relief work is hindering them from removing the carcasses. On Saturday, local residents identified 22 blackbugs and deer, seven pigs and one horse at Vanjiyur and 15 spotted deer, 20 pigs and four horses at Karkalacherry beach. Forest officials said they have been conducting an assessment of the missing animals. Karaikal District Administration has asked the people not to go near the animal remains as it could spread diseases.
Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!
Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!
Click here for iOS
Click here for Android
Next Story
