Monsoon fury claims 44 lives in TN

CHENNAI: The death toll due to rain-related incidents since the northeast monsoon set in TN reached 44 on Tuesday with the drowning of seven persons in flash floods in Tirupur. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has doubled the solatium for the families of the victims.Expressing condolences at Tirupur, the CM said `2 lakh would be given to the families of the victims immediately. Currently, 2,110 persons affected by flash floods in Tirupur have been housed in 10 temporary shelters and provided with food and other assistance. Besides, each of these families would be given cash assistance of `1 lakh, 10 kg of rice, a dhoti and saree and one litre kerosene. So far, 162 cattle have been killed due to the rains. The compensation for the loss of a cow would be hiked from `10,000 to `20,000, while the compensation for goats would be increased from `1,000 to `2,000. Similarly, the compensation for chicken would be increased from `30 to `100. She had already said that `5,000 would be given as solatium to 179 people whose huts were completely damaged and `500 to 705 people whose houses were partially damaged.