Puducherry, Nov 8 (BPNS)

Heavy rains continue to lash Union Territory of Puducherry under the influence of cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal. The territorial government of Puducherry has declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Tuesday also as rains are continuing.

Meanwhile, several homes were destroyed in the rains and waterlogging and the opposition leader and DMK leader, R. Siva demanded the government to sanction an immediate relief of Rs 20,000 to all those whose homes were destroyed in the rains.

In a statement on Monday, the Opposition leader said that people who have lost their homes have nowhere to go and as an immediate relief the government must sanction a minimum amount of Rs 20,000.

School for students of classes 1 to VIII scheduled to begin from Monday was postponed after the heavy rains and inundation in several places of the Union territory. School education minister, S. Namassivayam has announced that schools will reopen only after the rain subsides.

Control rooms are operated at the PWD offices, Police, health, and revenue departments to attend to any exigencies.

According to officers in the water resources department of Puducherry, water level has reached the maximum level at Oussudu and Bahour lakes that are the major sources of water in the Union Territory.

Oussudu lake is the most important freshwater lake in Puducherry region has a capacity of 540 million cubic feet and covers an area of about 800 hectares spread across Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. While 390 hectares of the lake are in Puducherry, the rest is in Tamil Nadu. The water level in the lake has touched 3.5 m total height which is its maximum capacity.