Steps have been taken to prevent the possibleoutbreak of any epidemic in the rain-affected areas in Kanyakumari district, according to Tamil Nadu Health Minister Dr C Vijayabhaskar.

Department officials are taking all necessary steps in areas such as Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin, Vijayabhaskar told reporters here.It was also decided to send teams of mobile doctors to Kanyakumari district to prevent the spread of epidemics, he said. Ministers, legislators, bureaucrats and government staff were involved in rescue and relief operations in these areas.

An amount of Rs 282 crore had been sanctioned through the Japan International Cooperation Agency to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, the minister said, adding that Rs 15 crore had been allocated for buying new equipment for cancer treatment.