: Several low-lying areas in Alappuzha district have been inundated since the onset of the southwest monsoon on Wednesday. The coastal stretch from Thrikkunnapuzha to Chellanam has borne the brunt been of the fierce waves.
Many areas in Cherthala, Ambalappuzha, Kuttanad and Punnapra remain waterlogged. The assistance of Fire & Rescue Services has been sought to pump out water from residential areas.
The threat of epidemics looms large in areas where water is stagnant.
Relief camps have been opened in Cherthala, Ambalappuzha and a few other places to accommodate people whose houses have been inundated.
Several people were shifted to the camps since Tuesday night when heavy rain lashed the coast.
Waterlogging has been attributed to blockage in the drainage system. Cleaning of sewage has not been taken up in many places. Areas such as Kalarkode, Valiyakulam, Kuthirapanthi and Zacharia Bazaar, within the Alappuzha municipal limits, are waterlogged. Falling of windswept trees has caused concern to people at various places.
Alappuzha municipal chairman Thomas Joseph said on Thursday that emergency measures would be taken to prevent waterlogging. Additional funds would be allocated to take up cleaning of drains, he said.
Trawl ban
There will be a ban on trawling along the coast from June 14 midnight to July 31. Stringent action would be taken against mechanised boats that violate the ban, District Collector R. Girija said.
Control rooms have been set up at the Collectorate and the office of the Fisheries deputy director to monitor the situation and help launch rescue operations.
The 24-hour control room at the Collectorate can be contacted on Phone: 0477-2238630, and the one at the Fisheries deputy director office on 0477-2251103, said officials.
