The coastal regions of the district were put on high alert on Friday after the sea receded near the historical Kappad Beach. Revenue Department squads and disaster management teams were pressed into action to monitor the situation and take rehabilitation steps in an emergency situation.
Movement of fishing boats was completely banned in the area. District Collector U.V. Jose, who reviewed the situation, directed all the village officers in the coastal areas of Kozhikode to report on duty on Saturday too for coordinating emergency situations. He also reviewed the arrangements taken for setting up temporary rehabilitation shelters if an evacuation was essential due to unfavourable climatic conditions.
Deputy Collector M.V. Krishnankutty, who holds the charge of Disaster Management, said 40 fishing boats that left nearly two days ago from Kozhikode coastal area were yet to be back. “We have not received any distress message from them following Ockhi alert. There is also chance for their safe anchoring in other secure coastal areas,” he added.
Mr. Krishankutty also said a relief shelter was ready at Chemanchery to rehabilitate people in case of emergency situations. Deputy Collector Sajeev Damodar would monitor the facilities here, and it would be able to accommodate 200 persons at a time, he added.
Though the impact of rain and wind was minimal in the city limit, rural farmers suffered huge loss with the perishing of crops. In Kavilumpara panchayat, plantain trees cultivated by farmers in large area after obtaining agriculture loans were perished in strong wind. More than 10,000 plantain trees were uprooted in the incident.
In Pasukkadavu and Maruthongara regions, rubber plantations and spice gardens were also hit by the adverse weather. Power supply was disrupted in the hilly regions after trees fell on electric lines. Local body leaders said it would take several days to repair the damaged lines and restore power supply. Near Peruvannamoozhi, a house was also partly damaged after a tree fell on it, they said.
