K. Sowmiya, a resident in Nagar Ambar in Nagore, stands in her house, which is seriously damaged. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The roof of the house, which collapsed last year in Ambedcar Nagar in Nagapattinam. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Many of these 6,000 odd houses in the Nagapattinam district, built as part of the rehabilitation of the rehabilitation post 2004, have now become dangerous. Almost half of them reportedly in poor condition are worried about their safety every time it rains.
Last week, an older couple in the fishing village of Akkaipettai – Soundarrajan and his wife Vasanthi – escaped closely when part of the roof of their house collapsed while they tried to take a nap at night. They were hurried to the government’s medical university hospital with serious injuries, but survived.
It’s not an isolated incident. In October last year, in the Ambedcar Nagar in Nagore, Vinothini N., a woman with disabilities, was dinner with her two children when part of their roof retreated. Fortunately, they ran out in time. In a similar incident in November in New Nambiyar Nagar, Rajathiyammmal had a temporary escape when the roof of her house collapsed.
Not everyone was lucky. In 2024, a two -year -old child V. Yaasindaram died in the collapse of the roof in the Tsunami house in the village of Sellur.
“In Nagapattinam, there are about 9,000 tsunami houses, of which 6,000 are damaged, and 3,000 were recorded between them as seriously damaged,” confirmed Hindi official of seniors. These houses, which were built after a disaster in 2004 by various NGOs, were to be safe shelters for those, mostly fishing and Dalits, moved by calamity.
Nagapattinam Mla J. Mohammad Shanavas raised the matter in the State Assembly. “We pushed the government to rehabilitate, but the long -term solution is delayed,” Hindu said.
The deteriorating condition of these houses was sharp. “The back of my house has collapsed several times,” says M. Saranya of Ambedkar Nagar in Nagore. With seven family members under one crumbling roof, rain is worried. Her husband is managed by the authorickshaw and works as a domestic assistant to meet both goals. In Ambedkar Nagar, it is said that around 190 houses are in a critically damaged state.
R. Uma of New Zambiyar Nagar says her house is not suitable for housing. “It’s impossible to raise children in this state,” he says.
K. Kavitha of Sellur needs 10,000 ₹ for patchwork, but she and her husband work as everyday wage earnings in the port and cannot afford it.
The Prakash K. activist from the Periyar Study Center in Nagore says that the problem began right from the beginning. “After 2004, two non -governmental organizations were building, but it was done badly. We have submitted petitions several times over the years. These houses are not safe – they cannot withstand the rain period.”
“We are witnessing new accidents every year. This cannot continue,” said K. Ornadesan, city secretary of CPI (m). “For the worst disabled, new houses must be built. For minor repairs, loans without interest should be extended.”
The head of the district official said that the work began to provide new houses or support repair in rural pockets using existing housing schemes. “About 1,500 city houses are still in strict need. We are watching the situation and trying to find a viable solution.”
Published – June 17, 2025 20:37
