Death toll mounts to 184, more rains expected in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: A new low pressure over southeast Bay of Bengal was expected to bring more rains to Tamil Nadu, where eight more persons were killed in rain-related incidents taking the death toll 184. Rains continued to lash many parts of the state including Chennai and its suburbs.

"Due to the low pressure, rains are expected over coastal districts of Tamil Nadu on Saturday," Regional Meteorological Department Director S R Ramanan told reporters here.

He said heavy rains could be expected in the coastal districts of the state on Sunday and Monday, even as Tamil Nadu was recovering from the monsoon fury it had been facing in the past few days resulting in loss of life and property besides extensive damage to crops.

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said in a statement today that eight more persons had perished in various rain-related incidents between November 18 and 25, with the toll going up to 184. She announced a relief of Rs four lakh each to the families of the victims. Kelambakkam (Kancheepuram) and Kodavasal (Tiruvarur) received the maximum of 4 cm and 3 cm, respectively.

The state on the whole has already received rainfall of 483.6 mm, which was higher than the total rainfall it receives during the entire north-east monsoon season, which was 440.40 mm which went up to December.

Jayalalithaa has said her government had taken adequate precautionary measures, which helped in minimising the loss of property and life. She has already allocated a Rs 500-crore relief package to handle the situation. However, the trail of damage and destruction caused by the extremely heavy rainfall indicates a requirement of much higher expenditure.

Further, the extent of damage is still unfolding and we have many weeks left in the north-east monsoon period during which more weather systems are expected," she said yesterday and recalled that she had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an immediate release of Rs 2000 crore.

Modi had on November 23 instructed the immediate release of financial assistance of Rs 939.63 crore to deal with the flood situation in Tamil Nadu.