At least 15 people were killed in three incidents of house collapses due to heavy rains at Nadur village near Mettupalayam in the textile city of Coimbatore on Monday morning.
Reports received at the police headquarters here said a total of 15 people have died when three houses collapsed. Police, fire and rescue service personnel along with revenue department officials rushed to the spot to undertake relief operations. Reports said that the deceased included women and children.
The incident took place around 0330 hrs when the victims were fast asleep. A total of 13 bodies have been recovered and sent to the Mettupalayam Government hospital for post mortem. Efforts were on to retrieve two more bodies trapped in the rubble.
Revenue officials said the collapse of a compound wall near the three tiled roof houses due to heavyrains was said to be the reason for the tragedy. Rescue efforts were on at the spot.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami condoled the deaths of 15 people and announced a solatium of Rs four lakh each to the family members from the State Disaster Relief Fund.
The deceased were identified as Guru, Ramnath, Anandakumar, Harisuda, Sivakami, Oviammal, Nathiya, Vaidehi, Thilagavathi, Arukkani, Rukmani, Nivedha, Chinnammal, girl Akshaya and aboy Lokuram. Meanwhile, heavy rains lashed several parts of the State due to upper air circulation and easterly winds.
The rains were heavy in the hilly Nilgiris district, Erode and neighbouring areas and in southern districts, where flood alert has been sounded.Heavy and incessant rains lashed Chennai city and suburbs with the Nungambakkam observatory recording 4.7 cm of rain till 0830 hrs this morning, while the suburban Meenambakkam received six cms of rains.
Met office said the wet spell was likely to continue for the next two days after which the downpour would subside. Meanwhile a holiday for schools were declared in eight districts including, Chennai, Tiruvallur, Thoothukudi, Cuddalore, Chengalpattu, Ramanathapuram, Kancheepuram and Ranipet, due to heavy rains.
