CHENNAI: Fourteen people have died in rain-related incidents in Tamil Nadu since the onset of the northeast monsoon, minister for revenue and disaster management K A Sengottaiyan said on Monday. The minister said 62 landslides had been reported from the Nilgiris since the start of the monsoon. He said the department has dispatched an expert team to the Nilgiris to study the recent landslides, while the govt was issuing rain-related information and alerts to the public without delay.“So far, 14 people have died in lightning strikes and other rain-related incidents in the state. The govt has extended financial assistance to the victims’ families,” the minister said after chairing a review meeting with senior department officials on monsoon preparedness.Responding to media reports of more than 30 rain-related deaths, Sengottaiyan said the department was examining other deaths reported since the onset of the monsoon to ascertain whether they were rain-related or due to natural causes. District collectors had also been asked to investigate the cases and submit reports to the govt, he said.The minister said a total of 62 landslides had been reported from the Nilgiris. He added that TNSTC bus driver Kanagaraj died on the spot and conductor Kesavan sustained injuries on his hand when their vehicle was caught in a landslide in the district. The govt has announced a solatium of Rs 4 lakh to Kanagaraj’s family. Kesavan is undergoing treatment.The minister said Tirupur and Coimbatore received heavy rainfall between 2pm and 7pm on Sunday, resulting in waterlogging in several places. The waterlogging was cleared by 4am on Monday, and normalcy had been restored, he said.
