By IANS,
Chennai: The rain fury has claimed as many as 179 lives in Tamil Nadu since the onset of northeast monsoon in late October. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Monday held an emergency meeting of officials to take stock of the situation.
According to the police control office here, the majority of deaths have taken place due to wall collapses and lightning strikes. The weather department has predicted rains till Tuesday evening in coastal districts due to low pressure in Bay of Bengal over Tamil Nadu.
In state capital Chennai, the incessant rains since Sunday night threw life out of gear.
Karunanidhi held a meeting with Chief Secretary S. Malathi and others to review the rain related damage and the relief measures being undertaken. The officials looked into the relief measures taken and checked whether the compensation amount has been properly distributed.
Meanwhile, eight senior officials continued their survey and estimation of rain damage in nine districts — Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Villupuram, Tuticorin, Tirunelvelli, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram.
The officials will submit their report Tuesday and the state cabinet will deliberate on that the same day.
The government has already announced Rs.100 crore towards relief operations in the first phase.