50 Medical Camps Set Up for Those Displaced by Flooding of River Cauvery

Chennai: The State Health department has opened about 50 medical camps for treating people evacuated from the banks of River Cauvery that was in spate following heavy discharge of water from the Mettur reservoir and was closely monitoring the situation.

After Chief Minister M K Stalin, who visited the State Emergency Operations Centre on Friday, gave instruction to the officials to ensure zero casualty due to the flooding of Cauvery, the authorities have put up 1,531 people in temporary camps and are providing necessary health services to them.

State Health Minister M Subramanian urged the people living along the banks of the Cauvery to visit the health camps and get treatment for their ailments like cold, fever and dehydration due to diarrhea as there was enough stock of paracetamol tablets, antibiotics and ORS packets.

Arrangements have also been made to treat people suffering from snake bites and other injuries caused by the flood situation at the nearest PHC and the 108 Ambulance services were also kept ready to attend to any emergency situation, the press release said.

Of the 1,531 persons staying in the relief camps, 1056 are from Namakkal district, which has borne the brunt of the floods. The other districts from where people have been shifted to relief camps are Erode (317), Cuddalore (53), Karur (30), Thanjavur (40) and Dharmapuri (35).

Stalin during his visit to the State Emergency Operations Centre spoke to the people in the relief camps in Erode district and in Pallipalayam in Namakkal district and enquired if they were provided all basic amenities.

On Saturday, AIADMK general secretary, accompanied by his party colleague S P Velumani, visited a relief camp in Komarapalayam in Namakkal district and met the people there.

The Health Minister has urged the people to not believe in rumours and follow the instructions of rescue teams by remaining where they were.

Other general instructions to the people were to boil and cool the water before drinking, maintain proper hygiene, take their regular medicines on time, not allow children near the flood waters and use mosquito nets to prevent the spread of diseases like Dengue and Malaria.