Mayiladuthurai coast reeling under sea erosion, many hamlets cut off

Several coastal villages in Mayiladuthurai district, particularly in Sirkazhi and Tharangambadi taluks, are reeling under sea erosion and stagnant floodwater, with fisher hamlets cut off for days, boats buried under sand, and at least 25 houses marooned as residents blame poor drainage, encroachments, and delayed official response to the impact of Cyclone Ditwah.

“In Tharangambadi fishing harbour, the lights are damaged and water is stagnating inside the basin itself,” said A. Kalaimathi, president of a fisherwomen’s federation. She told The Hindu that families in several villages were idle because neither the sea nor the harbour was safe.

At Chandrapadi, seawater surged nearly 200 metres into the land, surrounding around 100 houses. Fisherfolk said they were worried about the safety of walls and their belongings which had been hit by waves of saline water.

Fishermen in Puduppettai reported erosion of the coast while Chinnamedu experienced fresh seawater intrusion that affected drying yards. In Poompuhar, water stagnation was reported inside the harbour area. At Puthukkupam and Pazhayar, stagnant water in low-lying pockets and along major pathways had made movement difficult.

In Sirkazhi taluk, streets in Vanagiri remained under stagnant water, particularly in the low-lying stretches. At Thirumullaivasal, residents said rainwater had entered the houses. In Thoduvai, fishers complained that the beach had “shrunk”, with sand scoured away by waves; JCBs were deployed to clear sand and slush, but waterlogging persisted in Kottaimedu and Chinna Kottaimedu, where rainwater is yet to drain.

In the interior coastal belt, vacant plots and common spaces in Kuttiyandiyur and Vellakoil villages were under water. The entire Perumal Pettai panchayat was under sheets of water.

R. Bala, a resident of the tsunami quarters at Perumal Pettai, said low-lying portions of the rehabilitation area had remained waterlogged for days with families forced to walk in stagnant pools for basic needs.

At Vel Nagar in Koozhaiyar village near Sirkazhi, around 25 houses have been marooned for over four days. “For the past two days, our houses have been surrounded by rainwater. We are struggling even for drinking water and food, and there is no sign of relief,” said R. Kavitha, a resident.

At Kaliappanallur panchayat in Tharangambadi taluk, residents of N.N. Saavadi Pudhu Theru, Rathinam Theru and Ambedkar Nagar said about 100 houses had been surrounded by rainwater for more than three days. Water entered over five houses, forcing families to lock up and take shelter with relatives. R. Ramu, a resident, said they had to walk nearly 100 metres through knee-deep water just to reach the main road.

A similar situation prevailed at Eduthukatti Saathanur panchayat’s South Street, where about 60 families live.

Wall collapse

In Keelapattamangalam panchayat, in Mayiladuthurai taluk, a woman was injured when a section of a wall collapsed due to incessant rain. The side wall of a tiled house belonging to Ponnusamy collapsed onto a neighbouring hut belonging to Varadarajan, injuring his wife Gandhimathi, 52. She has been admitted to the Mayiladuthurai Government Hospital.

At Tharangambadi beach, authorities said the sea was rough with waves rising more than 10 feet and rainwater forming pools in the sand stretch in front of the Danish Fort. Despite this, tourists and local visitors walked close to the waterline on Sunday.