72 dead, over 30,000 rescued from inundated Kanchipuram

It hadn't rained much for the last two days, but on Thursday afternoon, showers begun again
72 dead, over 30,000 rescued from inundated Kanchipuram
72 dead, over 30,000 rescued from inundated Kanchipuram
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As many as 30,000 people have been evacuated from Kanchipuram district and disaster relief personnel are evacuating more people from waterlogged areas. Authorities say that 72 people have died in the rains that have lashed the region for the last 10 days.

National and state disaster rescue personnel along with teams of the district administration including fire and rescue staff have totally evacuated around 30,000 people. Local fishermen from Kalpakkam and Mahabalipuram are also helping in rescue efforts. Around 300 Army personal too have been deployed.

After two days of low rain, it has begun to rain again in Kanchipuram, which has received about 45 cm rain between Tuesday and Wednesday night. However on Thursday morning the sun was out for most part of the day before the rains began again. One of the reasons that Kanchipuram district has been flooding is that around 900 natural tanks of around 400 have breached while another 400 are overflowing.

Watch this video of Vengachery bridge near Kancipuram town which has been submerged:

Water is slowly receding but several areas such as Mahalakshmi Nagar in Chengalpettu are still waterlogged.

The locality has around 350-400 houses and 1000 people have been rescued. Around 100 or so people want to stay back in their houses.

Jeeva from Mahalakshmi Nagar says this is the third time the area has been flooded in the last few days. However, this is happening for the first time in three decades. 

He said that water was over flowing from 15 lakes around the area and that it was the last day of the four day reiduvscue operations that were being carried out. The area’s tahsildar, regional transport officials, and corporators have arranged for shelter, food and water. 

Watch a video of flood affected areas and Jeeva describe how they were rescued after being stranded for two days. 

Listen to Jeeva, who was also rescued on Thursday talk about how they were cut off from the rest of the world. He says that they would have been better prepared if they knew how the tanks, lakes and reservoirs are connected, and how they drain out. 

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