Reports received at the police headquarters in Chennai confirmed the death of 71 people. Those dead included 36 men, 18 women, 11 boys and six girls. However, the district wise break-up was not available.
The rains, which lashed the city, Cauvery delta areas and other districts under the influence of a low pressure in the Bay, had abated and life was returning to normalcy.
Meanwhile, Karunanidhi inspected
the old Karanodai bridge across river Kusasthalai, damaged by incessant rains earlier in the week, in adjoining Tiruvallur district.
Accompanied by Union Minister A Raja and State Ministers Duraimurugan and K P P Sami, the chief minister also inspected the damage caused to crops in Vanjivakkam, Thathaimanji, Kattur and Minjur in that district. He also distributed relief assistance, rice and dresses to the affected people.
The bridge had collapsed two days ago after surplus waters in the Poondi reservoir were discharged following torrential rains. The bridge, damaged by flood waters in 1992, was repaired and a new bridge was also constructed adjacent to it.
