The Hindu : Kerala News : Floods batter Adivasi areas of Nilambur

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Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala

Floods batter Adivasi areas of Nilambur

Staff Reporter

Two huts destroyed in landslip; Chaliyar, tributaries overflow

A bridge across Chaliyar washed away
Schools did not function on Monday afternoon

NILAMBUR: Incessant rains caused widespread destruction in Nilambur and neighbouring areas on Monday. Two Adivasi huts were destroyed in a landslip at Vennakkode hills in Chaliyar panchayat.

The huts of Chiruta and Mani of Muthuvan Colony in the panchayat were buried in mud on Monday morning. There were no casualties as the families were away at the time of accident.

Traffic in disarray

Many areas of Nilambur, including the Ootty-Kozhikode road, became inundated throwing vehicular traffic into disarray. Janata Padi near Nilambur town was particularly affected.

Traffic along the Nadukani mountain pass was affected following a landslip on Sunday night. It took many hours to clear the huge rocks that fell on the road.

A bridge across the Chaliyar at Vaniyampuzha connecting Munderi farm with Iruttukuthi Colony was washed away. About 90 Adivasi families in Iruttukuthi Colony were marooned following the destruction of the bridge. The Chaliyar and its tributaries like the Chokadanpuzha and the Kottapuzha overflowed on Monday as torrential rains lashed the Western Ghats since Sunday evening. The swollen Chaliyar submerged roads at Vazhakkad throwing vehicular traffic out of gear. Schools in and around Nilambur did not function on Monday afternoon.

Heavy crop loss was reported from Chokkad and neighbouring areas. Places like Adakkakundu, Karuvarakundu and Bhoothanam faced the threat of landslip as rains continued on Monday evening.

Assessing damage

Four families in Amarambalam panchayat were shifted to safety following flooding. A review meeting held at the Collectorate here on Monday pointed out that 736.72 hectares of crops were destroyed in the district since the monsoon set in. As many as 80 houses were destroyed and 2,281, partially damaged.

Nine people lost their lives in the floods at different places in the district. More than 13,000 people were affected by the rains and nearly 39,000 families were given free ration since the monsoon set in. District administration officials said Rs. 1.63 crore was distributed to the flood-affected families in the district.

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