CHENNAI: For this 69-year-old woman, who got both her legs fractured in the stampede during a flood relief a decade back, inundation of her house in this rains has only compounded the woes.
Hip-deep water in the streets had dipped to knee-level and Gnanammal (69), with the help of a walking stick, showed around her house to what extent the present flood has affected her rented ground floor accommodation.
“I was there at the relief aid centre in 2005. We were to get `2,000 as assistance for our extended family. But, I fell down and many stepped on my legs. I survived. But, I had suffered fractures in both legs,” she said. “It was after the incident, I earned the monicker of rendayiram (2,000),” she quips, in a lighter vein for a brief moment.
“The water level first rose on the street on Friday night and came down a bit on Saturday. But, then it entered into the house on Sunday afternoon and it continued to raise through Monday,” she said. A resident of 201st street on the banks of Kodungaiyur canal in Muthamizh Nagar, she was waiting for some good samaritan to bring the food which she heard to have reached 192 street.
Ramkumar, a neighbour, braved the water to the point where the food organized by Corporation Ward (35) member David Gnanasekaran. However, his hope was dashed as the food moved to the next serving point before he could make it.
Sathish, a II B.E, student, and resident of 202 Street in Muthamizh Nagar, alleged that the construction of the compound wall on Kodungaiyur canal has wreaked havoc in the neighbourhood. They had drilled holes on the compound wall for the water from here to enter the canal. But it is working vice-versa now. In the mean time, he observed that a girl who lives on the same street was to get married on Wednesday, and wondered what would the groom’s family do to reach the girl’s place.