Heavy rain batters Madurai city

Madurai: Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds, thunder and lightning battered Madurai city for about an hour on Saturday and Sunday evenings, leaving many major roads inundated by rain water.
A middle-aged man and woman were found dead in rain water under a tree near Periyar. The deaths of two carpenters who suffered shock after coming in contact with electric wiring were already reported on Saturday.
Roads in Kamarajar Salai, Masi streets and Marret streets, Simmakkal, East Veli Street, Periyar, Gomathipuram, Vilakkuthoon and Villapuram were submerged.Stagnation of rain water slowed down movement of all vehicles. “The road could not be seen at all in a few places, making it dangerous as the roads are damaged or have pot holes. Narrow lanes were the worst as water drained in from main roads,” said K Vishwanath, a teacher from Kamarajar Salai. Water entered the premises of Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple and strong winds led to trees falling on roads.
On Sunday morning, rain water had not drained in many areas leaving roads stagnant and muddy. Heavy rain resumed in the evening again for an hour.
R B Udhayakumar, deputy leader of opposition in the state assembly, in a petition to district collector demanded that the state government provide Rs 10 lakh compensation to the families of the four deceased. He said teams comprising police, fire safety and rescue services, revenue, electricity, public works etc., could have attended distress calls from public to prevent such accidental deaths and help people.