Rains killed 470 in Tamil Nadu, says Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Monday kickstarted a cash relief programme for the flood-hit victims of Chennai. About 14 lakh beneficiaries will get cash (Rs 5,000 for waterlogging and another Rs 5,000 if their shelter is damaged) credited into their bank accounts, besides a saree, dhoti and 10 kilos of rice to be provided at government-run fair price shops.

Terming the Chennai floods as “unprecedented,” Ms Jayalalithaa said in a statement that so far 470 people have died due to the vigorous northeast monsoon and close to one lakh livestock have died. Crops to alarming extent of over 3.83 lakh hectares have submerged.

For farmers and villagers too, the state unveiled its relief package of Rs 30,000 for loss of a cow, Rs 3,000 for dead goats and pigs.

The government also announced Rs 18,000 per hectare for submerged crops. Fishermen will get Rs 32,000 to buy new catamarans and Rs 75,000 for those who lost fishing boats.

The government provided relief of Rs 4 lakh each to families of 245 victims and the rest will be covered in the coming days, she said pointing out that a central team will again visit the rain hit pockets of TN on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ms Jayalalithaa estimated the area of crop loss to be around 3,82,768 hectares including 3.47 lakh hectares of agricultural crops and 35,471 hectares of horticultural crops.