Chennai continues to grapple with the wave of destruction brought on by the cyclone Michaung-induced rain. With the state authorities making an attempt laborious to consolation the residents with reduction and rescue measures, the folks in north Chennai really feel “a sense of neglect” because the folks have been struggling with out meals, electrical energy, and connectivity for the previous 4 days.
Many areas in north Chennai, together with Tondiarpet, Ennore, Pulianthope, Manali, Perambur, Pulianthope, Royapuram, Kodungaiyur, Korukkupet, and so on are closely waterlogged. In unison, the residents claimed that no member of the legislative meeting or native councillors have visited them to supply any assist. They keep in waterlogged homes in concern as snakes, bugs are sometimes seen floating alongside the floodwater.
A severe well being hazard is looming at Tamizhan Nagar, IOC, in Tondiarpet, the place the garbage-laden flood water obtained combined with oil. The space roughly has round 280 homes.
Fathima, 39, mentioned that the oil-mixed water has entered her home and there was no provide of milk, water or any important commodities for the previous three days. All her belongings, together with tv, fridge, and washer, obtained broken within the flood.
“We don’t have clothes to change. All of them have gone. On television, they flashed helpline numbers and when we contacted them, it was not reachable and no one responded. No one came here,” she mentioned.
Rani (44) echoed comparable views. She mentioned her eight-month pregnant niece was trapped inside her home with neck-deep water and was rescued by themselves as no official or native physique representatives got here ahead to assist them.
“It gives me anxiety even if I think about it now. She was shivering, and somehow we got her out from her residence, which is five to six houses next to mine. We gave her hot water treatment and did traditional treatments to get back to her senses. We have suffered a lot. The basic thing the government can do is to at least pump out the remaining water and provide us with electricity,” she identified.
The staircases in some homes are slippery because of oil that entered their homes with floodwaters, making it extraordinarily harmful for the elderly, and youngsters.
At MGR Nagar, seventh lane, the sewerage-mixed water has occupied your complete lane. The residents are unable to step out of their homes.
Lakshmi (37), a flower vendor, has 5 youngsters to maintain and mentioned they’re ravenous as her husband, a fisherman, shouldn’t be in a position to exit to sea for the previous 4 days nor have they obtained any reduction gadgets from the authorities.
“There is no food at all. My kids are starving. We are daily wage labourers. We get money only if we go out. We are trapped here losing out on our income. We don’t know what to do, we are struggling,” she complained.
Certificates misplaced; girls made to run like beggars to get a packet of bread
With no ingesting water, the scenario is even worse close to Moolakothalam at Kondithope. The worst affected is the locality housing a thickly populated Scheduled Caste group, who’re largely daily-wage labourers. The floodwaters have broken their certificates, and different paperwork. The frequent rest room they use is water logged including to the distress of girls who have been seen pleading to the folks in close by homes to allow them to use their loos.
“Like beggars we were made to run to catch a packet of biscuit or bread. Our houses are completely submerged in water. Snakes, centipedes, leeches have sought refuge inside our houses. There is no milk supply. I pleaded with local officials for milk to give my kids, but it was of no use. There was no drinking water for over a week,” Sarala, a resident of the colony, mentioned.
The residents right here confirmed their homes which have been engulfed in sewerage. The youngsters have misplaced their certificates, the numerous households misplaced paperwork like Aadhaar, ration playing cards. They are clueless about what to do subsequent.
At CB Road in Korukkupet, the water has not receded and over 5,000 households right here don’t have any possibility however to attend till the scenario restores to normalcy.
Poulina, a home-maker, famous that the water degree was as much as her hip-level and now it has come down.
“No one came forward to help us. Snakes, frogs are floating here. We are also part of the party (DMK) but it is of no use. There is no current here for the past four days. Our area councillor is nowhere to be seen and we are informed that our MLA is not in town,” a resident famous.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First revealed on: 08-12-2023 at 11:45 IST
