Monsoon toll goes up to 87 in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: With the northeast monsoon lashing several parts of Tamil Nadu, more than 80 people have been killed in house collapses, flash floods and lightning strikes. Putting the death toll at 87 since the onset of the monsoons on November 1, the DGP's office said the highest number of deaths, at least 17, were recorded in Villupuram district.

Reservoirs brimmed and rivers overflowed, flooding several places in south, central and western Tamil Nadu. The state revenue department placed the death toll at 57. The figures were yet to be updated for deaths that occurred in the past week, revenue secretary K Dhanavel said.

Chennai meteorological department director S R Ramanan predicted more rains in the southern districts.
Residents of low-lying areas close to Amaravathy in Karur and Cooleroon in Tiruchi have been warned by PWD officials about impending floods. Though no flood alert has been issued, residents have been asked to stay away from the river banks. Due to incessant rains in the region in the past few days, Amaravathy and Cauvery rivers are filled to the brim in Karur district.

In Coimbatore, a 10-year-old girl hailing from Bihar died at Kuniamuthur in the city when the mud wall of her house collapsed early Monday morning. In Villupuram, the latest casualty was a 75-year-old woman, N Kanangambaram, who was crushed to death when the walls of her house collapsed following incessant rain on Sunday in Athichanallur village in the district. Her 80-year-old husband, Narayanasamy Reddiar, was injured and has been admitted at Tirukovilyur government general hospital.

In another recent rain-related incident, a couple were crushed to death while their son and daughter sustained severe injuries when their house collapsed due to incessant rains at Ashokapuri village in Villupuram district.

Met director Ramanan said 11cm rainfall was recorded in Ambasamudram of Tirunelveli district and Dharapuram of Coimbatore district in 24 hours. He said the trough of low pressure that formed off the Sri Lankan coast on Friday moved westwards and now extends from Sri Lanka to south Tamil Nadu. This is likely to bring more rains to Tamil Nadu.