MAN MADE DISASTER IN TAMILNADU

Tamilnadu had unprecedented  heavy rains during November-December 2015 after 1918 called  the rains of the century due to El Niño .In between there were heavy rains during El Niño years. Bu this is rated as the heaviest.But the flooding in Chennai city,Cuddalore district and other districts brought unimaginable  misery to people.Many lost their precious lives. Families belonging to all social classes suffered heavy losses. The worst period was from November 30 in Chennai city when water from the Chembarambakkam reservoir was released with almost no warning leading to unexpected flow of water with water levels raising every second. Numerous houses particularly those of the poor were submerged in water or washed away. Household properties were destroyed. Panic gripped the people. Power was cut and mobile connectivity was lost. Food and water were in scarcity. Army and National  Disaster Management Teams rushed to various places saving the lives of people trapped in water and in houses.Relief materials were dropped from helicopters  The state government also extended large scale relief operations with publicity and pictures of the Chief Minister for political gains.Political parties also arranged relief materials .But the role played by individuals,particularly the youth, and NGOs are commendable as they did without seeking publicity and in the most dedicated manner braving rains.

The flood is caused not by El Niño but by the politicians, officials and real estate mafia.Rivers were encroached upon.So also lakes and small ponds, and wetland . These water bodies which could prevent flooding were taken over for residential and commercial  buildings as well as for roads, other infrastructure and government buildings. Rampant corruption was the cause in approving illegal construction. There was total callousness in city planning by all governments during the last nearly fifty years. Whatever waterways were left were not maintained regularly. So also the drains were ignored. No lessons were learnt from the previous North East monsoons by the state and city corporation. The massive floods which entered houses even upto ten feet high ,and accumulation of chest or neck  level water  in many streets and roads even after ten days are in areas which were erstwhile wetland and water bodies.

Nearly six hundred people died in cruel circumstances.But this is official data. Real data will remain a mystery. Two instances are extremely painful. One,the drowning of a 72 year old retired Lt .Col of the Indian Army and his wife in their apartment in the Defence Officers Colony. The other is the death of 14 or 18 patients on ventillator support in the MIOT hospital due to lack of oxygen caused by flooding in the generator room. The lapses of the ruling class and the officialdom are unforgivable.