Minister inspects rain-hit areas in Ramanathapuram

Following heavy overnight downpour that left roads and bylanes across Ramanathapuram heavily waterlogged, Minister for Environment and Climate Change V. K. Rajeev on Tuesday inspected the affected areas.

Rain accompanied by thunder and lightning lashed many places in Ramanathapuram district on Monday night. In the 24-hour period ending at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, the district recorded the highest rainfall of 80.4 mm at Thiruvadanai, followed by Ramanathapuram 62, Theerthandasthanam 50, Thondi 49.6, Mandapam 36, Vattanam 36.2, R.S. Mangalam 30, and Paramakudi 10.4.

A tamarind tree on Ramanathapuram D-Block National Highway was uprooted.

Mr. Rajeev inspected the waterlogged areas including Bharathi Nagar, Nehru Nagar, Old Bus Stand, Palace, Kenikarai, Chettiyar Street, and Om Shakti Nagar. He instructed officials to drain the accumulated rainwater and repair the roads.

Some residents in Om Shakti Nagar complained to the Minister that several streets in their locality still lacked paved roads, causing severe hardships during the rainy season, and requested that roads be laid.

Collector M. Sivaguru Prabakaran and other officials were present during the inspection.

Later, speaking to reporters, Mr. Rajeev said that instructions had been given to officials to drain the rainwater and fix potholes in Ramanathapuram town, Pattinamkathan, and Sakkarakkottai. The underground drainage system in Ramanathapuram Municipality had failed due to improper pipeline installation, and a new project was being formulated to lay pipes properly for discharge of sewage.

On Monday, A. Panchanathan, 47, a resident of Kakkanendal was struck by lightning while working in his agricultural field in the village in the evening. He died of his injuries on the spot. His body was taken to Paramakudi Government Hospital for port-mortem. A relief fund of ₹4 lakh was given to the family of the farmer by the district administration.