Measures underway to resolve civic issues in flood-hit areas in Tiruvannamalai: T.N. govt.

The rescue operation that was underway at the landslide site in VOC Nagar, Tiruvannamalai. File photo
| Photo Credit: C. Venkatachalapathy

The Tamil Nadu government is taking steps to repair the roads that were washed away and remove flood water from residential areas in Tiruvannamalai district, which has been severely hit by Cyclone Fengal. It has also shifted marooned residents to safe places, according to a press release.

The State government, with the coordination of various departments — including the Tiruvannamalai Municipality, Revenue and Disaster Management, State Highways, and Tangedco — is taking various steps to resolve the civic issues faced by the residents of the district, the release said.

As part of restoring several roads that were severely damaged due to the floods caused by heavy rains, a special team comprising 17 assistant engineers and 567 workers have been deployed. They are involved in repairing the Cuddalore-Chittoor Road, Villupuram-Tiruvannamalai Road, Tiruvannamalai Bypass, Avalurpettai Road, Kallakurichi Road, VOC Nagar, and the Girivalam roads around Arunachala Hill.

The district administration, through the officials of the Agricultural and Horticultural Department, is engaged in surveying the damage caused to crops and distributing provisions to those affected by the floods, the release said.

The district administration had provided all the necessary support to the National Disaster and Response Force (NDRF) team, which was engaged in the rescue efforts in the Arunachala Hill landslide, which claimed the lives of seven people.

The administration also helped create new water channels to clear stagnant water from Uthukottai, Vediyappan Kulam, Kizhnathur, Thavasikulam, Sonankuttai, and Kaithemillath Street. The officials of the Tiruvannamalai Municipality relocated a total of 160 families, comprising 350 members, residing in low-lying areas to relief camps and distributed food packets to them. The municipality workers are also engaged in pumping out stagnant water by deploying heavy duty pumps in Anna Nagar, the release added.