One week on, Shanmugha Nagar remains powerless

PUDUCHERRY: Residents of Shanmugha Nagar in Ariyankuppam, on Thursday, were a perturbed lot as relief measures and clearing of debris, left behind by the Cyclone Thane, were yet to gain momentum in the area even after a week.Nearly 700 houses, mostly thatched huts were yet to getany kind of help from the authorities.  The cyclone had left most huts in shambles and  without any roofs.  The trees were leaning dangerously and the snapped electricity lines were lying scattered on the narrow strip of road. However, the few concrete houses survived the onslaught.   Murugan, one of the residents, said the officials were yet to visit the area and offer any solace and added that speaker V Sabapathy came to a remote point in the area, spoke to some of the people and left. Raveendran, another resident, said the food packets (given for lunch alone) and drinking water were provided for the first two days and after that none of the authorities bothered to show up.With no help in sight, some of the affetced residents cooked food in the houses which survived the onslaught. Kathai, a woman resident, said she was now preparing food in a neighboring hut, which also suffered damage.Mangandan, a college student and Nandakumar, a Plus Two student said they lost their text and notebooks to strong winds. Flaying the apathy of the officials, Shivakumar, a lab technician living in the area, said the electricity department officials had started repairing the lines in the neighbouring areas, but they were yet to enter  Shanmugha Nagar, where the snapped lines were tied together and kept on one side of the lanes so that people could walk. It may take a couple of more days before electricity supply could be restored.The residents are unhappy with the relief amount (Rs 2000 to ration card holders), as this would not be enough for them even to repair the damaged huts.Shivakumar said the authorities should improve the basic amenities, which had not been given any attention for the last few years.  They  also said that steps should be taken to construct concrete houses so that they could withstand any such calamities in future.