Control room daily receives 20 distress calls
A fruit vendor's cart narrowly escapes the wrath of a falling tree after heavy rains. (Photo:DC)
Coimbatore: With incessant rains battering Kovai, 38 houses were damaged partially or fully and several hundreds of acres of crops ravaged, according to district officials. At least 20 distress calls are received at the toll free control room daily keeping the officials of the district administration on their toes, assessing damage caused to buildings and crops, besides carrying out relief and rescue measures.
"As many as 38 houses were damaged partially and fully so far in Coimbatore district due to the rains," said district revenue officer D. Christuraj. Heavy rains also claimed the life of C. Palanisamy, 85, after a damp compound wall fell on him on October 22. Low-lying areas like Kovil Pallam and Vellimalaipattinam in Thondamuthur have been flooded and around 62 families have been sheltered safely in schools and community halls.Besides, Indira Nagar in Mettupalayam and Valparai were pounded by heavy rain.
Mettupalayam, which received 61 mm rainfall on Monday, received 36.40 mm rain on Tuesday.The district administration has identified residential neighbourhoods near tanks and canals as vulnerable to flooding."A contingency plan is in place to tackle any emergency. In fact, members of our disaster management committee will monitor these areas round the clock. Our primary objective is to undertake immediate rescue and relief operations in case of flooding. The panchayats and all departments are in a state of preparedness by keeping local schools and community halls ready to shelter people in case of any emergency.
Local bodies have the keys of over 100 schools with them as a precautionary measure," the DRO said. PDS rice has been stocked for three months and sand bags laid on the bunds. People living along the course of the Noyyal and Bhavani rivers have been asked to move to the upper regions by drum-beat announcement. Cooks who can be pressed into service in case of necessity, were also asked to be ready.
Toll free No. 1077 at the control room, which has been opened to receive and attend to rain-related problems, has been ringing continuously over the last two weeks.
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