Powerful waves pounded the coastal areas of the city on Monday night and on Tuesday, damaging houses and eating away further the receding coastline. Irate residents blocked the Valiyathura junction for hours in protest against the lack of response from the administration.
The latest round of sea erosion came at the most inopportune time for those living in the coasts.
“Till yesterday, these streets were teeming with politicians and party workers. Had this happened a day before the elections, almost everyone would have arrived here in no time, offering us all kind of help. But no one is here today. It’s only us, with no one to hear our wails,” says Maria, a fisherwoman who was part of the group which blocked the Valiyathura junction. The residents placed electric posts at the mouth of all the four roads leading to the junction, saying they have had enough of the government’s apathy, which leaves them at the mercy of the waves frequently.
“Water has now entered the second line of houses in this coast. We couldn’t sleep the past two nights. With the monsoon rain set to arrive in two weeks, the situation will get even worse. Ever since the work on the Vizhinjam port began, the coastline here has receded considerably,” says Yesudasan, another resident.
According to the information from the district administration, eight houses were destroyed and 20 were damaged.
“Three relief camps have been opened at the LP School and UP School at Valiyathura and at the LP School at Beemappally. Around 40 families have been shifted to these three camps,” said an official.
Meanwhile, several families have been living for the past two years at a relief camp inside the Government Fisheries Higher Secondary School at Valiyathura. A comprehensive rehabilitation package, including housing blocks at Muttathara, was mooted as a permanent solution to the problems faced by residents of Valiyathura. But these have not been implemented yet.
Houses submerged
The continuous rain compounded the problem for many in the coastal regions. Hundreds of houses along the Adimalathura coast were partially submerged as sea water rushed in on Monday night. Fire service personnel were trying futilely to pump out water from some of the areas even in the afternoon. Children from the area were seen rowing about in the flooded areas.
As the water level receded, cracks were seen on the walls of some of the houses. Later in the day, the ‘pozhi’ was cut open at Adimalathura and at Pozhikkara to facilitate the outflow of water from the residential areas along the coast.
With more rain expected in the coming days and the sea in no mood to relent, the people here are living under fear of further coastal erosion and flooding.
