CHENNAI: Most parts of Kancheepuram district are limping back to normalcy, with the water that flooded several areas due to breaching and overflowing of lakes receding. People are now busy cleaning their houses and valuables.
Bus services were partially restored and mofussil buses began operations. However, railway lines from Chengalpattu and Tambaram are not yet operational as the gravel under the rails was washed away and parts of the lines are water-clogged. Buses from Tambaram and Chengalpattu are heavily crowded due to the lack of train services. Another major problem in the area is lack of phone connectivity. The death toll in the district reached 98 with the death of a woman who drowned in Perumbakkam when she went to watch the floods. One of the two youth who tried to save her also drowned. The deceased were Kasthuri and Deenadayalan from Dhamal.
More than 55,000 people took shelter at 237 relief camps in the district. Government officials are providing them with relief materials like food, clothing and water to the affected people, while members of the National Disaster Relief Force are rescuing stranded people.
The areas that are severely affected by floods include Chengalpattu town, Guduvanchery, Perungalathur, Tambaram, Mudichur and Anakaputhur.
Mofussil buses were stopped due to flooding on GST road at Kattankulathur, Chengapattu and Guduvanchery.
West Urapakkam, which was heavily flooded with about 25 feet of water in the last two days, heaved a sigh of relief as the water began to drain away today. The Karanaipuducherry and Mayilima Nagar areas on the eastern side remained unaffected by the most severe flood in 100 years. The encroachments on Karanaipuducherry lake and the nearby Gokulam colony were totally flooded, with water covering the first floor and entering the second.
While most residents were busy cleaning their houses, a large number of people packed their belongings and left. As there are no train services, a crowd gathered near the Perungaluthur mofussil bus stand.