Emergency Flood Relief by AID in Parangipetai and Killai Block Villages in Cuddalore District, Tamilnadu, India

The recent torrential rains had led to a trail of destruction in several areas in the Cuddalore district.  The downpour was unprecedented and the people were clueless about the impending disaster that the floods were about to cause to them then.  The flood had engulfed around 450 hamlets in Chidambaram, Katumannarkoil, Punrotti and Cuddalore talukas (sub-districts) and thousands of people were rendered homeless.  Crops including paddy and sugarcane cultivated in about 2,00,000 hectors of land were fully submerged in the flood water and they were destroyed

Recent devastation of flood in the tsunami affected areas of Cuddalore

Cuddalore District has 57.5 km-long coastline and serves as the natural confluence for seven major rivers - the Kollidam, the Vadavar, the Vellar, the Manimuktha, the Gedilam, the Penniayar and the Paravanar. Within Cuddalore District, Parangipettai and Killai regions in coastal Cuddalore District are located in the estuarine and Delta regions of Tamilnadu. This region has a unique landscape created by rivers and backwaters from the East Coast of Bay of Bengal. Further, these regions are also irrigated from Veeranam lake - one of the biggest water bodies in Tamilnadu. In other words, this region is surrounded by network of rivers, reservoirs, tanks and irrigation channels, which prove to be a boon in normal times but a bane during the monsoon.

This year, the flood from the copious rains and deluge from Kollidam and Vellaru rivers breached its course in many locations. Adding insult to injury, the gushing waters of Veeranam and Perumal lakes and breaking of bunds of many ponds and water canals intensified the flow of flood water.  The turbulent swollen rivers and the drainage canals marooned the low lying estuarine coastal villages. Owing to water logging and breaching caused by the swift flowing rivers, there were a trial of death and destruction. Further, the reverse flow of backwater from sea due to the limited absorption of flood water by the Bay of Bengal increased the water flow towards the inland. This not only dislocated and disposed of their habitat, but also crippled the life of many daily wage earners particularly Dalit families. Many lost their homes, assets, dress and utensils. Parangipettai and Killai regions measured highest rainfall and the floods were very harsher in this region. Agaram hamlet and villages around Killai area were completely submerged under water for more than three days in succession.

These regions were disconnected and detached from the mainstream for three days. The entire transport came to a grounding halt. No relief materials reached in these three days. Most of the local authorities stayed in Chidambaram (the Sub-district headquarters) and Cuddalore and were held up. In view of it, they were not able to reach the region for relief operation. There was also acute shortage of food, milk and other essential items in this region. Further, frequent depression and weather announcement of threat from cyclone created panic and fear.

 In this scenario, AID swung into immediate action on the first day of flood. Having its office over there, it had the advantage. Despite risky operation and amidst immense fear on the life of its staff,  AID did its relief operations with fast track action.

Double trouble caused by duel disasters

Another notable feature was that these regions were earlier hit heavily by the tsunami of 26th December 04. Before the tsunami anniversary, they were mauled by floods once again from three torrential rains. The third spell was unprecedented generally in Tamilnadu and particularly in Cuddalore District. Before the families recovered from the trauma of onslaught of tsunami, they were hit once gain by the flood water and battered their life. They were the victims of twin water borne natural disasters within a year. They were displaced more than twice. They were not only homeless, but also were subjected to severe mental trauma and acute fear psychosis triggered by both disasters.

Rescue Operation:

Volunteers of AID in association with the Fire personnel of Parangipettai swung into action in rescuing the people who were living on the banks of the backwater canals and in huts with mud walls. The AID team had evacuated the people to the safer places and sheltered them in marriage halls, temples and school buildings.  Mostly the hamlets in and around Parangipettai town and Agaram area were the worst-affected.  The AID team rescued nearly 460 persons in Parangipettai and 350 people in Killai areas. They lost their crops and their livelihood second time in a year.

sheltering the people in the safer places on war-footing. The Parangipettai Muslim Two ambulances of AID were pressed in for rescue operation, evacuation and Jamat had prepared about 5000 food packets for the flood-afflicted people.  AID volunteers and the staff had distributed the food packets to the affected people when there were no shops, hotels, electricity for continuous three days.  This timely initiative by AID coupled with the encouraging, healing, softening and morale-boosting words was well received by the people.

Relief operation:

     
A team consisting of the staff of AID-Parangipettai, AID-Dharmapuri, AID-Chennai and local volunteers was formed for relief operation works. Areas which were badly affected in both Parangipettai and Killai areas were first surveyed. The AID team had identified the affected villages and the details of the villages, total no of families, no of widows, destitutes, orphans, old men and women were enumerated village-wise.   Based on the survey, AID had evolved the methodology to distribute the relief materials.

The relief package consisted of ten items namely 10 kg Rice, 2 Kg Dal, 2 packets of Sambar Powder, a cooking utensil, a bucket, a mug, a sack, a bed-sheet, 1 kg cooking oil and 2 mats.  Preference was given to those people whose huts were surrounded by water and whose houses were damaged by the rains.  The relief work took almost four days to complete and totally 2000 families in 19 villages were benefited.

  The AID relief team had worked in unison and care was taken that the most-affected people were given the relief materials.  A list of beneficiaries was prepared for each village and the village leaders and youth were involved in the entire exercise to ensure smooth relief operation.  Although the people in some places were impatient at times to receive the materials, they were the satisfied lot eventually.  AID’s timely gesture in giving the relief materials to the affected people was well appreciated and the people were happy that they have got something to fill their stomachs yet for another few days.

Key outcomes of its relief works

• 810 persons life rescued

•  Food aid provided to 2000 families and thus their life protected from starvation and hunger.

•  Reduction of physical suffering of 19 villagers.

•  19 Villagers were alerted to safeguard them from flood disasters

• Basic support provided to about 2000 tsunami victims to protect them from  second flood disaster