CUDDALORE: The Gadilam and Manimukthar rivers are in spate. Several villages cut off. Low-lying areas under water. Efforts by Fire and Rescue Services to evacuate people hindered by water flow. This was the scene in Cuddalore on Sunday as the heavy rains once again crippled the district, which is yet to recover from the impact of the deluge.
As per the rain gauge data released on Sunday morning, Kattumailur recorded 165 mm of rainfall, Veppur 164 mm, Keezhseruvai 167 mm, Vriddhachalam 123 mm, Kuppanatham 131.80 mm and Lakkur 129 mm.
Two villages — Keezhakurichi and Maligaimedu near Veppur — were cut off from the main road, leaving thousands of people stranded.
The rain in the reserve forest areas has led to the overflow of a canal near Kattumayilur, submerging roads to these villages.
Even the efforts of the firemen to move the people to safer ground went in vain because of intense flow of water.
People were left in distress as many were stranded in their houses and their loved ones, who had gone out, were unable to return home.
As water flow in the canal increased, the rescue team camped in the area as a precautionary measure.
Owing to the flooded Sengal Odai, residents of Reddypalaym, Kalkunam, Poothampadi, Arangamangalam and Samathuvapuram near Kurinjipadi have been evacuated by buses on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, Public Works Department (PWD) plugged a breach in the Sengal Odai.
Because of the floods in Kannuthoppu canal, the residents in low-lying areas of Vadakkuthu village have been evacuated.
Traffic in Vadlur-Sethiathope area was stopped after a causeway was inundated with water from Paravanar river. Vriddhachalam and surrounding villages were also affected by inundation because of the overflowing Manimukthar river. Vriddhachalam-Ulundurpet Road was under water and as a result Chinnavadavadi was the worst-hit.
Keenanur, Manavalanallur, Kottumulai, Ottimedu and about 10 other villages were inundated.
In Panruti, hundreds of houses were submerged. Because the Ezhumedu Lake breached, villages such as Rasapalayam, Muthukrishnapuram and Muthunarayanapuram were flooded.
Many areas in Cuddalore municipality, along Gadilam River too were flooded.
Houses in Purusothaman Nagar, Kondur and many other residential areas were under sheets of rainwater.
Two Dead
An unidentified man, who was watching the water flow in Manimukthar River, was washed away at Vriddhachalam. Fire and Rescue Services personnel have launched a search for him.
In another incident, a woman Annakili (75) of Karkudal village was killed in a wall collapse. Her body was taken to Government Vriddhachalam Hospital for a postmortem. Another 65-year-old woman Saroja of Periyakappankulam died after she accidently fell into a canal.
Army in Town
Army reached Cuddalore district on Sunday to take up rescue operations. About 160 personnel, including doctors, reached the district and held discussions with Collector S Suresh Kumar. Later, they travelled to flood-prone areas so that they could plan rescue operations. The armymen would be split into teams for camp at Cuddalore and Bhuvanagiri.