Heavy rain continuing for the third day on Thursday brought widespread havoc to crop and property in the district. Large areas of ripe paddy have been inundated following extensive breaches in bunds.
According to the district authorities, more than 450 people from 106 families have been shifted to relief camps.
Holiday for schools
The District Collector has declared a holiday on Friday for the schools where relief camps have been set up and also the schools in the low-lying areas, which are under threat of inundation. The schools include those in Aymanam, Kumarakom and Thiruvarpu panchayats and SNDP LP School, Maniaparampu, Aarpookkara; St. John's LP School, Pulinaakkal, Aymanam village; St. John's LP School, Veloor; Government LPS, Veloor; Government UPS, Kallupurackel; Manikya Vilasom LPS, Kallara; NIM UPS, Vadayar; St. Luis LPS, Vadayar; Mar Sleeva UPS, Vadayar; Vivekananda LPS, Paral; and Government LPS, Poovam.
According to the district authorities, more than 600 hectares of paddy fields was inundated on account of bund breaches on Thursday. These include the 256 hectare Mudakkalli and 52 hectare Cheriyakari polders in Neendoor; and the 256 hectare Vattamattom and the 60 hectare Chenakala polders in Kallara. Polders in Vazhappally too have been inundated on account of breach in bunds. The total crop loss due to flooding has been put at Rs.8.58 lakh.
The inundation has also led to power cuts in most of these areas, making the draining of these polders a difficult job. If the rain continues for another 48 hours, the loss would be massive, according to farmers.
With the flow of water from the eastern high ranges increasing, the road traffic to western areas of the district has also been affected.
