Rain subsides, 18 relief camps functioning

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT. 26. City residents heaved a sigh of relief as the torrential rain which had been lashing the district for the last four days subsided today. Efforts were on to pump out stormwaters from the flooded areas in the district. As per the latest records, 139 houses were destroyed and 2,132 damaged in the rains.

With one more relief camp set up at the Chovara Anganwadi today, the total number of camps has gone up to 18. As many as 3,500 persons have been accommodated in these camps.

An official pressnote issued here today said the district administration has taken steps to distribute free ration to the people in the relief camps. Five families were relocated to a camp at Chirayinkil today. Revenue officials led by Deputy Collectors are overseeing relief operations in the worst affected areas in Manacaud, Muttathara and Kadakampally villages.

The Kaimanam-Kuttikad bund in the Pappanamcode ward was partially breached by floodwaters. The ward councillor, Ms.M.P.Lalithabai, said the surrounding areas including residential colonies were under threat of submergence. She appealed to the Government for urgent measures to reconstruct the damaged bund before the onset of the North-East monsoon.

The CPI district council today alleged that the district administration and the concerned ministers had failed to initiate relief operations on a war footing. District leaders of the party including the State executive member, Mr.C.Divakaran, and the district assistant secretary, Mr.Venjaramoodu Sasi raised this charge after visiting the relief camps.

A pressnote issued by the CPI demanded waiver of loan repayment for the farmers who had sustained losses running into crores of rupees. It called on the authorities for urgent steps to provide medical assistance, drinking water and food to the people in the relief camps. It also urged the Health department to prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases.

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Section  : Southern States
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