Chennai : As the death toll in rain-related incidents hovered around 100 in Tamil Nadu, people affected by the downpour on Wednesday expressed fears about the threat of an outbreak of an epidemic in waterlogged areas.
While residential areas have been cut off due to accumulated rainwater, heaps of garbage dumped in areas from where water has receded poses a major health risk. In many places, drinking water has been contaminated by sewage, further increasing the risk of spread of diseases. “It may take a couple of days for the water to drain out.
This poses a major risk as malaria or dengue may break out in waterlogged areas,” Rangarajan, a resident of Kanchipuram district, told IANS. Though the state government was silent on the official death toll, it has set up medical camps in flood-affected areas in the state. In a statement issued here, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said a survey to assess loss of huts, cattle, boats and other assets was on and compensation would be paid quickly.
Several thousands of people have been evacuated from low-lying areas in several districts in Tamil Nadu while more than 69,000 people have been housed in relief camps in rain-affected areas.
