HEAVY rains battered Chennai city and other parts of the state and has thrown life out of gear in several parts of Tamilnadu.  People of these areas are having a harrowing experience under water logging conditions.  Water has seeped into hundreds of houses, roads fully submerged under the flood water.   

A team under the leadership of the Polit Bureau member and state secretary of CPI(M) G Ramakrishnan visited the flood affected villages and rendered assistance to the affected people.  Because of the incessant rains November 8-9 in Cuddalore district, several villages were worst affected by flash floods.  When the team visited one of the affected areas, there was no evidence to show that there existed a house.  Only a few books drenched in the rains could be seen.  When the leader of the team took one of those scattered books, he could read the text in Tamil saying “water purifies the body and truthfulness purifies the thoughts” which has been written by Siva, a boy who was studying in fourth standard.  When this was being read by him, people who were there informed that Siva was washed away by the flash floods triggered by the rains in Cuddalore district.  On hearing this, the eyes of everyone were filled with tears.  Yes, this has happened in the village Periyakattupalayam.  Seven members of the same family were washed away in the flash floods.   

The team led by G Ramakrishnan visited these villages and met the people who were now in relief camp in Kadamupuliyoor.  Assistance was rendered to the affected 138 families in that camp.

The relief work was organised jointly by the All India Insurance Employees’ Association (AIIEA), BSNL Employees’ Union (BSNLEU) and the CITU.   Relief materials worth of Rs Two lakhs have been distributed by the divisional units of AIIEA in Tamilnadu and Kerala.  Relief materials worth Rs One lakh were distributed by the Tamilnadu state committee of the BSNLEU.   

On behalf of Chennai Divisional Unit-1 of AIIEA, relief work was undertaken in Sindhadhripet in Chennai.  Apart from these, the units of DYFI and AIDWA are also engaged in the relief work.