Surviving kids collect belongings from house

CHENNAI: Two of the three children who survived the Pulicat lake tragedy were taken to their house at Gummidipoondi on Saturday along with their guardian and collected their belongings in the presence of tahsildar and police personnel. The local government authorities claimed that the relief announced by the Chief Minister would be given to the children probably next week.Survivor brothers Janagaraj (13) and Paul Dinakar (10), sons of Sundarapandian’s eldest son Jebadurai, were taken to their house at Gummidipoondi. Twenty members of the Sundarapandian family including the parents of the two brothers drowned in Pulicat lake last Sunday when they had gone on a boat ride as they celebrated Christmas.“The boys have to get back to school on Monday as it reopens. Upon their requisition and an order from the RDO, I along with the children and their guardian and a few relatives went to the house where the Sundarapandian’s family lived. We opened only the children’s room and allowed the boys to go in and take their books, certificates, clothes and shoes,” said tahsildar Ramabiran.After getting a statement signed from the boys and relatives, the belongings were given to the two children, the tahsildar said, adding that the house would be locked and the keys handed over to the government treasury.A similar procedure was done for the third survivor Paunraj, who collected his belongings from his house at MGR Nagar in the presence of the local police, he said.Earlier, following orders from the Child Welfare Committee, Tiruvallur, brothers Janagaraj and Paul Dinakar were handed over to their maternal uncle Gnanasundara Kamaraj and aunt Chitra of Tiruvottiyur while Paunraj was handed over to his aunt Krishnaveni of Korukkupet, local authorities said. “The children were handed over only after an inquiry with them by the CWC. A welfare officer would visit the children every three months. The relief would likely be given next week,” the tahsildar added.