Heavy
and continuous rainfall over the past five days has caused widespread
flooding and the deaths of at least 13 people in the state of Tamil
Nadu. The rains, also affecting the state of Andhra Pradesh, were
caused by a low pressure center over the south-eastern bay off Chennai
along with the north-east monsoon.
In
Tamil Nadu, between 40-50 cm of rain has been recorded over the
past five days and the most seriously affected districts are Cuddalore,
Nagapattinam, Chennai, Thanjavur, Theni and Cumbam. The State Government
is stepping up flood relief activities and has closed schools and
colleges as the Meteorological Department forecasts continuous rain
for the next two days. Fishermen have been warned not to go to sea
and a cautionary alert has been issued at the Chennai port.
In
the Cuddalore district alone, at least 3,000 homes have been inundated
by flood waters and people have been evacuated to safer places.
Close to 35,000 hectares of standing crops including paddy and groundnut
are submerged. As the rain continues, the village administrative
officers in the Cuddalore district have been directed to keep the
community halls and cyclone shelters ready and equipped with basic
supplies. Cuddalore is prone to flooding as it is the confluence
point for seven rivers, the Pannaiyar, Vellar, Gedilam, Paravanarul,
Kollidam, Old Kollidam and the Manimautharu.
Hundreds
of hectares of paddy crops in the Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Thanjvur
districts remain submerged under the flood waters. In Tiruvarur,
107 villages have been affected and displaced people have found
shelter in schools and other public places. Community kitchens are
functioning in four locations.
In
Andhra Pradesh, the districts of Nellore,
Chittoor and Kadapa are badly affected by the rains and it is estimated
that close to 45 villages are seriously affected by the floods.
ACT
member, the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India
(UELCI), is assessing the situation and planning to respond through
its local member churches: the Arcot Lutheran Church (ALC), the
Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC), the Indian Evangelical
Lutheran Church (IELC) and the South Andhra Evangelical Lutheran
Church (SALC). Initial plans are to provide emergency food and non-food
items. A Rapid Response Fund request may be forthcoming.
UELCI
is in contact with other ACT members in the area including Church’s
Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) and the Lutheran World Service
India (LWSI).
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie
Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).
