Incessant rains and the rough sea continued to inflict heavy damage in Alappuzha for the third day in succession, with the total loss so far due to damages to property and agriculture crossing Rs.1.14 crore.
The rains have forced authorities to declare a two-day holiday, on Tuesday and Wednesday, for all educational institutions barring colleges and technical education institutions in the Kainakary, Pulinkunnu, Thakazhi, Edathua, Thalavadi and Muttar panchayats of Kuttanad taluk.
According to officials, 297 houses have been damaged partially till Monday, while 19 have been rendered unfit for inhabitation. Most of these were in the Ambalapuzha region, where 105 houses were damaged partially. In the Kuttanad taluk, 94 houses have been damaged partially, 30 of them on Monday alone. The toll in Cherthala was 58 houses.
The loss to agriculture, mostly in Kuttanad, Cherthala, Mararikulam and Kanjikuzhy areas, was estimated to be worth around Rs.84 lakh so far. The damage was most felt in the paddy sector, where paddy worth Rs.59.5 lakh spread over 298 hectares has been damaged. Coconut and banana plantations and vegetable cultivation also suffered heavy damage, officials said.
Three bund breaches also have been reported from Veliyanad and Ramankary in Kuttanad with several bunds facing the threat of being breached in Edathua and Pulinkunnu. The padasekharams where bund breaches were reported from had seeds sowed barely two weeks ago. The rising water levels have partially submerged several houses in Kuttanad, including the Kuttanad Excise Circle Office on the Alappuzha-Changanassery Road, where traffic moved at a snail's-pace due to inundation at several spots.
On the coast, though the waves appeared to be slightly milder on Monday, several houses were reportedly damaged in the Arattupuzha and Ambalapuzha regions. However, the situation is yet to force evacuation of families in these areas.
