Several houses and roads in the coastal belt of Alappuzha remained flooded after huge waves lashed the coast shortly after 3 p.m. on Friday.
While the district authorities said there was a rise in the seawater level, reportedly caused by tidal activity, the huge waves that lashed the coast triggered panic and over 100 houses, particularly in the Railway Station Ward of the Alappuzha municipality, and in Purakkad near Ambalapuzha, were flooded, forcing inhabitants to evacuate their homes.
A few schools alongside the coast too closed early after reports of the seawater level rising came in. Several coconut trees on the coastline too were uprooted, with fishermen who ventured out to sea saying that this was the first time in nearly a decade that the sea had turned so rough in one particular region.
The change in sea behaviour was visible on the Alappuzha Beach as well, with tall waves nearly hiding the 150-year-old sea pier. A large
number of people flocked to the beach to watch the phenomenon while Fire & Rescue Services personnel were pressed into service to help people whose houses were flooded.
District Collector P. Venugopal, Municipal chairperson Mercy Diana Macido, Revenue Divisional Officer A. Gopakumar and other officials visited the affected spots.
Mr. Venugopal said there was nothing to panic as of now and that the district machinery had, however, been placed on alert.
