The district administration has swung into action, opening 18 relief camps to accommodate 1,359 people from various parts of the district as rains continued to inflict serious damage to houses and standing crops in Koathamangalam, Moovattupuzha, Perumbavoor on the eastern parts of the district and in Paravoor taluk in the coastal area.
Loss of acreage under crops and number of houses damaged continued to rise. The district administration said on Thursday that 326 houses were been damaged partially and 16 fully in the rains during June. The estimated loss was more than Rs. 47 lakh on account of damaged houses. The loss on account of loss of crops in 68 hectares was Rs. 5.37 crore, said a press release issued by the district administration.
Two relief camps were opened on Thursday. A senior revenue department official said 12 families were shifted to the relief camp at the SN School, Thiruvaniyoor in Kanayannur taluk. Preliminary aid for these families and those in the other relief camps had been distributed and free rations had been ensured. The families received Rs. 2,000 each as well as some clothing and food items.
Fifteen people from six families have been relocated in the other relief camp that opened on Thursday at Manakkappady, Karimaloor in Paravoor taluk, said a statement issued by the district administration here. Paravoor taluk has the most number — 1,160 people from 248 families — in the relief camps.
Relief camps have been opened at Karimaloor Pattikasamajam, Chalakka Government LP School and Vayalkkara SNDP Mandiram in Paravoor taluk to accommodate 191 people from 42 families. Relief camps at the Puthenvelikkara LP School and the North Kuthiathode LP School have 151 people from 39 families.
Eight families from Eloor and 211 people from 40 families from the Edamulam colony in Kadungalloor have taken refuge in the relief camps opened in these villages. A total of 202 people have been shifted to the Kuttikkattukara LP School; 25 people have taken shelter at the Binanipuram LP School. All these areas come under the Paravoor taluk.
A total of 36 people from nine people have been shifted to relief camps in Aluva taluk. Kanayannur taluk has 73 people from 18 families in relief camps, said the press release.
Meanwhile, Edakattuvayal has taken a blow from the rains with extensive damage to houses and standing crops being reported from several parts of the panchayat even as people are complaining about inadequate compensation and farmers are ruing their failure to insure plantations.
Joy Jacob, a farmer, said a portion of his house had been damaged as a rubber tree fell on it in the heavy winds Wednesday night. He also lost nearly 500 banana plants and most of the 1,000 rubber trees on his plot.
C. J. Sabu, a part-time farmer has a small plot in the panchayat. He said he had sustained losses of around Rs. 25,000 because of damage to banana plants.
Karimalayil Mathai, a veteran farmer in the panachayat known for extensive cultivation of traditional vegetables and bananas, rued the fact that he had not insured his crops. He complained that insurance money for the crops that were damaged last year had not been received.
Mr. Mathai said farmers had timed their crops to hit the market ahead of the Onam season, when demand for vegetables and bananas peak. However, the heavy winds on Wednesday night and rains ruined the prospects.
