Date:05/08/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/08/05/stories/2005080505230400.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Flood situation continues to be grim in Alappuzha

Staff Reporter

Kuttanad worst hit; 1.26 lakh people in relief camps

ALAPPUZHA: Flood situation in the district worsened by Thursday evening with water level rising in Kuttanad taluk.

Two bodies have been recovered — one from Pulinkunnu and the other from Rajapuram lake in Kavalam panchayat. They have not been identified so far.

As many as 1.26 lakh people in the district have been shifted to relief camps, according to officials. Of the 546 relief camps which function in the district, 464 function in Kuttanad taluk alone. As many as 37 camps function in Karthigappally taluk, 12 in Mavelikkara taluk and 18 in Chengannur taluk. Fourteen camps have been opened in Ambalappuzha taluk and one in Cherthala taluk. The Government has declared free rations for one week to the affected.

The total loss incurred owing to floods is likely to cross Rs. 15 crores.

Kuttanad taluk has been the worst-hit. Road traffic here has virtually come to a halt in the last two days as roads remain submerged in water. Power supply has been disrupted in many parts. Education institutions in the taluk remain closed.

Many parts of Kuttanad taluk remain cut off. Although road traffic has stopped, the number of boats operated by the State Water Transport Corporation has not increased. People are forced to hire private boats at high tariffs to go to Alappuzha and Changanassery.

Around 20,000 tonnes of paddy procured by various agencies in the last harvest season and being kept at makeshift godowns have been damaged in the flood. Farmers said that paddy had germinated in many places and that several sacks had been washed away.