The Hindu : Rain wreaks havoc in Kannur

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 16, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Rain wreaks havoc in Kannur

By Our Staff Reporter

KANNUR OCT. 15. The unusually heavy rain that has been lashing the district with full fury during the past three days till yesterday left a trail of extensive property and crops destruction in flooding and landslips and brought normal life in many parts into a standstill.

While one youth drowned in a rain-swollen ditch, another person was washed away.

Revenue officials here said that the total loss of properties and crops would be over Rs. 4 crores. While the Agricultural Department officials were engaged in figuring out agricultural loss by flooding and landslips, initial figures indicated that the crop loss would cross Rs. 2.5 crores.

Torrential rain wrought havoc on crops and properties as several areas in the outskirts of Kannur and Thalassery towns were inundated by water from rain-swollen rivers, streams and drainage channels. Large extent of agricultural crops was destroyed in landslips in Manikkadavu, Kolithattu, Kurishumala, Varikkappara, Uruppukumkutty and Mudikkayam areas near Iritty here. People living on the slopes of Manimala narrowly escaped a landslide. Vast extent of agricultural land was devastated here.

A 22-year-old youth, identified as Paramban Vijesh of Moryad near Koothuparamba, drowned when he slipped into a ditch while engaged in rescue operation at around 9 a.m. P. Purushu (43) of Peyanat near Mambaram here, was washed away.

The flooding disrupted train services to and from Kannur and paralysed road traffic in several places yesterday. Rescue and evacuation work in the district went into over-drive as reports of people having been marooned in their houses in several low-lying areas had started coming in since late night on Sunday.

Fire Force units here were pressed into service to evacuate inhabitants from these areas to safer places. Hundreds of families were evacuated from Padannappalam, Manhapullu, Kuruva, Thazhechovva and Thazhechovva-Elayavur road, Pathipalam, Vallyayi, Chembad, Vengad, Thayyil and Nadal and Shivapuram areas where flood water rose up to five feet and more. Fire Force used inflatable boats to evacuate the people from flooded areas.

According to Revenue officials, 3,303 people belonging to 754 families were evacuated to safer places in the district yesterday. While 2,281 people of 625 families were brought to 35 flood relief camps, the remaining 1,022 of 129 families in flood-affected areas were staying with their relatives. The calamity also left 43 houses fully and 149 houses partially damaged. As many as 14 groundwater wells caved in in different parts of the district.

Though the rain showers tapered off by noon yesterday, many flood-hit areas continued to be inundated, paralysing road and rail traffic till late afternoon yesterday. Bus services had to be suspended in the Kannur-Thalassery, Kannur-Koothuparamba and Kannur-Azhikode routes because of the flooding.

Train services in the Kannur-Kozhikode section was also hit as tracks at Nadal and Dharmadom between Kannur and Thalassery

railway stations were submerged in water. South-bound trains had been held up at Kannur railway station since 5 a.m. Large number of passengers are stranded.

The flooding also disrupted power supply in many areas. Power supply was switched off in many areas where rescue works were going on.

The situation is under control now as flood water started receding today, a day without rain after three days of incessant showers.

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