NEW DELHI: Residents of Iruvelpattu village in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district on Tuesday allegedly threw mud at Tamil Nadu forest minister K Ponmudy during his visit to assess flood damage. The incident took place amid a heated protest on the Chennai-Trichy National Highway, where villagers voiced their frustration over inadequate relief efforts, as per reports.
While inspecting Iruvelpattu village, Ponmudy faced angry locals who alleged that their remote village had been neglected by officials for two days following Cyclone Fengal‘s impact on the district. A person from amongst the gathered villagers hurled mud at the minister, staining his white shirt along with the attire of several officials and police personnel in his entourage.
In Chennai, Sekar Babu addressed the media regarding the incident, dismissing it as a politically motivated act. “The mud was thrown by a member of a political party and her relative,” Babu said.
The demonstration, which lasted more than four hours, brought traffic to a standstill and spotlighted the grievances of those impacted by the cyclone.
BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai shared the video of the incident and alleged that Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin is busy “taking photos” in Chennai and not looking beyond what is happening in the capital city.
Stalin on Tuesday convened a high-level meeting with ministers overseeing relief operations in flood-hit areas, including Villupuram, Cuddalore, and Kallakurichi. During the review, Stalin announced compensation packages aimed at addressing the losses suffered by affected families.
The state government pledged Rs 5 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives in the flooding and Rs 10,000 for damaged houses. Relief measures were also extended to farmers, with Rs 17,000 per hectare for paddy crops and Rs 22,500 per hectare for perennial crops. Additionally, livestock losses will be compensated, with Rs 37,500 allocated for cattle and Rs 4,000 for goats.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called CM Stalin to inquire about the devastation and assured central government support. Stalin reiterated his request for a central team to assess the cyclone’s impact. “The Prime Minister spoke to me over the phone and inquired about the severe damage caused by Cyclone Fengal,” Stalin posted on X, adding that relief efforts were underway.
The calamity also claimed seven lives in a landslide in Thiruvannamalai district, including five children. Stalin announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for the victims’ families.