CHENNAI/CUDDALORE/PUDUCHERRY: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday visited the flood affected areas in the city and distributed relief materials to the people. He landed at Tambaram after inspecting the flood damages in the Union Territory of Puducherry and Cuddalore district.
On his arrival here, he left for Mudichur, one of the worst-hit places, and interacted with people to have a first-hand account of the situation. He comforted them and distributed relief materials. He also went to Villivakkam and parts of North Chennai, both severely affected by the floods.
Speaking to the media, he said the Centre had more responsibility in providing flood relief and should concentrate on affected areas.
He was accompanied by TNCC president E V K S Elangovan and others.
Though scheduled to visit Chennai in the morning, his programme was changed and he went to Puducherry and Cuddalore first. He visited Chennai in the afternoon and continued to meet people and converse with them till late evening.
In Puducherry, Rahul said he did not want to politicise the issue of rain relief. Speaking to reporters at Shanmugha Nagar, Ariyankuppam, he said both the State and Centre should provide assistance without delay.
Rahul, who is the first national leader of any party to visit the rain-affected areas of Puducherry, asked the villagers who gathered at a paddy field near Narambai whether they have received any assistance. The farmers, who showed him the damaged paddy crop, told him that they were yet to receive any sort of aid.
Later at Karaikkadu village near Cuddalore, he said, “This is a very big tragedy.” He also distributed relief materials. Residents from several other villages in the district were brought to Karaikkadu by Congress functionaries to provide aid. In all, about 760 villagers received relief materials.