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TN lost 470 lives to the Northeast Monsoon, says CM Jayalalithaa while recalling demand for central assistance

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 14 February 2017, 3:46 IST

Four hundred and seventy lives were lost in the deluge caused by the northeast monsoon which played havoc in the Tamil Nadu region, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa informed today. The monsoon also reportedly claimed a lakh livestock besides damaging crops in over 3.83 lakh hectares in the state.

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"During the northeast monsoon period between October 1 and 27, as many as 49 persons died. Four hundred and seventy persons died of various reasons including drowning, electrocution, lightning strikes and wall collapse between October 28 and December 31, 2015," said Jayalalithaa.

Demand for central assistance

  • Detailing the large-scale destruction, Jayalalithaa recalled her demand for a central assistance of Rs 25,912.45 crore for the relief and restoration works.
  • The Central team of Inter-Ministerial officials, which earlier assessed the damage caused in the first three phases of rains, will visit the state again from tomorrow for a similar exercise. Noting this development, Jayalalithaa expressed hope that the Centre will release the "required" assistance based on its report.
  • The chief minister stated that despite the state's preparedness, the damage was "huge" on account of the "unprecedented" rains witnessed in the last century that caused a deluge affecting Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallore, Cuddalore, Tuticorin and Tirunelveli districts.
  • Although the northeast monsoon season stretches between October 1 to December 31, it had set late on October 28 this year, she said.
  • The government had provided relief of Rs 4 lakh each to families of the 245 victims and the rest will be covered in the coming days, she said.

Agricultural and livestock damage

  • The Chief Minister pegged the area of crop loss at 3,82,768 hectares.
  • Over 3.47 lakh hectares of agricultural crops and 35,471 hectares of horticultural crops have suffered damage, she said adding that 68,350 farmers had been compensated with Rs 29.48 crore. The rest will be covered soon, she informed.
  • A total of 30.42 lakh families had suffered partial or complete damage to their dwelling units, including huts, with the government completing the survey of 14 lakh families in this connection, she said.
  • As far as livestock is concerned, about 98,000 cattle, poultry, goats and pigs had perished during the monsoon and a compensation of Rs 7.78 crore has been disbursed so far, she said adding that Rs 12.82 crore has been provided for loss sustained by the fishing community, which includes boats.
  • The government had announced measures like cash compensation for damage to houses, besides providing rice and kerosene, she recalled.
First published: 4 January 2016, 6:22 IST