750 Staff, Seven Teams: Coimbatore Corporation's Rain Relief Push

Coimbatore: The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has deployed around 750 officials and workers across its five zones to carry out rain relief and rescue operations, as heavy rainfall affected several parts of the city, causing waterlogging and disruption to residents.

Acting on the directions of Corporation Commissioner Katta Ravi Teja, IAS, senior officials, engineers, health officers and field personnel have been directly involved in monitoring the situation and coordinating relief measures on a war footing.

The Corporation has formed seven special teams under the leadership of zonal assistant commissioners to respond to emergencies. A range of vehicles, machinery and equipment has been deployed across the five zones to carry out water drainage, rescue, cleaning and other relief operations.

The resources include nine sewage suction vehicles, 10 motor pumps, nine submersible motors, 53 tree-cutting machines, 10 generator sets, 16 JCB vehicles, seven poclain machines, seven Bobcat machines, five pesticide-spraying vehicles, 75 portable spraying machines, 5,400 sandbags, 25 tipper lorries and 20 drinking water lorries.

Special monitoring arrangements have been made at locations prone to water stagnation, including the Avinashi Road flyover, Lanka Corner flyover, Kikani School flyover, Kaaliswarar Mill flyover, Avarampalayam railway underpass, Sivananda Colony flyover, Neelikonampalayam railway underpass, SIHS Colony railway underpass, Irugur Road flyover, Pattinam Itteri Road flyover, Nesavalar Colony railway overbridge and Singanallur bus stand.

To clear rainwater accumulated in 11 underpasses, the Corporation deployed 29 high-capacity motors and three generator sets. The operation was aimed at draining the water and restoring normal traffic movement.

Relief and cleaning operations have been carried out in residential localities where rainwater entered homes. Areas covered include Maniyakarampalayam, Vedapatti, Sabari Garden, Anbu Nagar, Narikuravar Colony, Indira Nagar, Kothari Layout, Narayanasamy Layout and Anna Nagar, among others.

In Anna Nagar, residents whose homes were inundated were accommodated at the Corporation community hall in Gramanaickenpalayam. Food was also provided to those taking shelter there.

Corporation personnel removed a tree that had fallen on a car due to the rain and cleared the affected area. Following damage to a compound wall near Kaaliswarar Mill, removal and restoration work was undertaken with the assistance of a JCB machine.

Officials and workers have continued relief operations around the clock, focusing on draining water from homes, cleaning affected neighbourhoods, removing fallen trees and providing shelter and food to residents affected by the rainfall.

The Corporation's Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) is continuously monitoring the situation across the city. Complaints received from residents are being forwarded to the concerned field officials for prompt action.

Residents can report rain-related complaints and grievances to the Corporation through its telephone and WhatsApp number, 8190000200.