Officials yet to visit cyclone-hit Kodai villages, alleges Kamal

The cyclone, which hit Kodaikanal on November 16, caused havoc affecting normal life of common people and livelihoods of farmers.

Initially, the MNM founder met affected families at Perumalmalai, where most of the houses had lost roofs due to the cyclone. Victims explained to Kamal the gravity of the situation and said that the government has not yet issued orders to clear the uprooted trees thereby causing immense hardship to the local community.

Subsequently, Kamal met banana and coffeeplantation workers in Kurusaradi, where they informed him of the effects of the severe soil erosion that washed away the sheet of top soil in the plantation regions thereby stripping them of their livelihoods.

Meanwhile, he listened to the plight of a fruit seller whose push cart was severely damaged in the cyclone. The victim said he is yet to receive any sort of assistance from the government. Besides, the MNM offered relief materials to a victim at Korankombu.

In another cyclone hit village of Kadaisikadu, the victims said no officials had visited the village.

While responding to a query, he told reporters that this interaction with cyclone victims in Kodaikanal was important than making himself present at the statue unveiling ceremony of the late DMK chief M Karunanidhi in Chennai.