Rain claims more lives

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUG. 26. The death toll in the monsoon rain in Kerala rose to eight today even as heavy damage was reported from many districts.

Four persons lost their life in separate monsoon-related accidents as heavy rain continued unabated in Kottayam district today also. The district authorities have put the loss to crop and property at Rs. 3.93 crores.

Markose (60) of Villoonni was washed away in the flooding waters of Pennarthode. Aji (21) of Vazhappally near Changanassery was electrocuted when he tried to salvage electrical appliances from his inundated house. K.C. Philip (50) of Manalel, Thottackad, and Sam (51) of Panayakkazhuppu near Chumgom were washed away by the gushing waters.

The district authorities have opened 28 relief camps at various spots in the district rehabilitating over 1,400 people belonging to over 250 families.

According to the district authorities, paddy in over 6,200 ha has been lost in the inundated low-level areas. Over 90 ha of vegetables and 50 ha of tapioca have also been destroyed in the heavy rain during the past 24 hours.

Many areas in the district including Kumarakom have been isolated on account of the flooding waters. Traffic on the Changanassery- Alappuzha road has come to a stand still as the road was submerged.

Two deaths have been reported from Pathanamthitta. Sumathy (70) and Thankamma (75) from Mezhanchery were drowned in the flood waters. At Vallamkulam, a husband and wife were injured by a falling tree. As many as 1,136 families were removed to 57 relief camps.

Kasaragod also reported two deaths today. The deceased were identified as Ravindran (30) from Hosdurg and Mohammed Sali (80) from Thalankarayil. The district administration has opened 80 relief camps.

In Thiruvananthapuram, 78-year-old woman Chellamma was killed at Palappur when the wall of her house collapsed on her. Her daughter Omana (50) was admitted to the Medical College hospital with injuries. The Government sanctioned an amount of Rs. 5,000 to the family and Rs. 500 for medical aid for Omana.

At Valiathura, a fisherman was injured in the eye when the roof of his house collapsed. Nine families have been shifted to a relief camp. One house was destroyed and one damaged in the district.

In Kozhikode, the monsoon has affected 1,200 metres of the coast. Three families have been shifted to a relief camp. In Kannur, six houses were damaged while in Idukki, 52 houses were destroyed and 173 damaged. Damage has been reported from 24 villages.

In Alappuzha, 32 villages were affected. More than 1,000 persons were shifted to 45 relief camps. Eight houses were destroyed and 62 damaged.

In Thrissur, three-year-old Sruthi was drowned in the floods. The rain damaged 14 houses. In Kollam, two houses were destroyed and 118 damaged. In Palakkad, one person was injured, one house destroyed and 45 damaged. In Wayanad, four houses were destroyed and 27 damaged.

In Ernakulam district, three houses were destroyed and 31 damaged.

The KSEB has warned that the shutters of the Pampa dam will be opened very soon as there is copious inflow and the water level is rising fast. The Board asked people living on both sides of the river to be vigilant.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister, Mr. Krishnan Kaniyamparambil, has asked district principal agriculture officers to provide emergency assistance to the farmers who have lost their crops due to the unexpected heavy rain. He directed the officers to furnish at the earliest details of the crop loss to the Revenue Secretary, the District Collectors and the Director of Agriculture.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Kinfra to set up 'Biotech Park'
Next     : DMK leader's poser to Govt.