Central team inspects crops, property damaged by floods in Cuddalore

Central government team assesses cyclone damage in Cuddalore district, inspecting crops, roads, and infrastructure with affected farmers and officials.

An inter-ministerial team, deputed by the Central government to assess damage to crops and property due to cyclone Fengal, visited several parts of Cuddalore district on Sunday.

The seven-member team headed by Rajesh Gupta, Joint Director, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) began the exercise at Pagandai near Panruti where they inspected breach of the bund of Then Pennai River.

Officials from the Water Resources Department explained that the river’s catchment areas in Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram and Cuddalore districts had recorded heavy rainfall resulting in heavy discharge of 2.4 lakh cusecs. This was higher than the original carrying capacity of the river and resulted in breach of the bund at Pagandai and inlets at Melpattampakkam.

The team also inspected the damage to roads at Melpattampakkam and damaged paddy and banana crops at Azhagiyanatham. The team members heard in detail from the affected farmers and officials about the extent of damage caused to crops in the district.

Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Secretary, Department of Rural Development and Collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar elaborated on the damage that had been caused to agricultural crops, roads and other infrastructure with the help of a photo exhibition at Melpattampakkam.

The team members also inspected damaged houses at Gunduppalavadi and agricultural lands covered with thick layers of sand due to flooding at Kandakadu.

Later, the team held a meeting chaired by Mr. Bedi at the Cuddalore Collectorate.