Matters far from normal in Ernakulam

Number of displaced rises to 1.50 lakh; no let-up in calls for help from desperate flood victims

August 18, 2018 01:43 am | Updated 01:43 am IST - KOCHI

Hell and high water:  People wait for aid on the roof of a house in a flooded area in Kochi on Friday.

Hell and high water: People wait for aid on the roof of a house in a flooded area in Kochi on Friday.

If numbers tell a tale, then the tragedy that struck Ernakulam district can be deciphered from these daunting numbers: since the water level in the Periyar rose ominously on the eve of Independence Day, 1.42 lakh people from 41,093 families have been moved into 416 relief camps across the district. And, the number is showing no sign of coming down any time soon.

Though sun peeped over the district on Friday, a full 40 hours after it was last seen, things were far from bright.

Even as rescue and relief operations by various agencies gathered momentum, there was no let-up in the avalanche of calls for help from desperate flood victims or their family members, relatives, or friends. While several hundred people were rescued from buildings and other places where they had sought refuge, there were still many who continued to await assistance.

The coordinated rescue efforts by various Central and State agencies started in the early hours of Friday as they focused on rescuing people who were stranded in various parts of Aluva and Paravur for hours together.

The initiative of fishermen along the coastal belts whose boats were transported on lorries to Ambattukkavu near Aluva proved to be of immense help, as shortage of boats had badly affected rescue operations the previous day.

The extent to which the operations had been scaled up was apparent from the rising numbers in the camps, which stood at 250 on Thursday, sheltering 52,000 people.

“It helped that the rain came down and water level didn’t register any perceptible increase compared to the previous day. Many stranded people were rescued, while food items were air-dropped for those stuck in inaccessible areas,” said M.G. Rajamanickam, the officer in charge of rescue and relief operations in the district.

However, a furious Roji M. John, MLA, said that thousands remained had stranded even on their own housetops for the last couple of days in Kalady, Malayattoor, Parakkadavu and Manjapra panchayats in Angamaly, with little help from the State machinery.

“I have been trying to get the help of the government machinery ever since the tragedy stuck but to no avail. At least those fully exhausted people crying for their lives should be air-dropped with some food items to keep them alive,” said Mr. John.

He said that people who could be reached with the help of lorries and buses were being rescued, but those trapped in the deep-ends could be reached either by boats or helicopters, which were not forthcoming.

“The extent of tragedy that has befallen Angamaly is not reaching the outside world, as we remain cut off, and the media cannot access our areas where over 50 camps are being run,” Mr. John lamented. A rough estimate put the number of people rescued so far at over 71,600. Around 7,064 were rescued from within the municipal limits with boats, 20 using helicopters, and over 37,000 using vehicles.

In Thrikkakara constituency, 22 camps have been opened after the Edappally canal started flooding on Thursday night. Water spilled over to Edappally Junction, forcing the closure of a mall in the vicinity.

“Ponnekkara, Edappally, Padivattom, and Vennala were among the affected areas in the constituency because of flooding in Edappally canal. However, half the camps were for accommodating people from Aluva and Paravur,” said P.T. Thomas, MLA.

Things continue to remain precarious in Muvattupuzha, though water has receded marginally, with rain also staying away for large parts of the day. “Through concerted efforts by rescue agencies and dedicated volunteers, we could bring down the number of people stranded in various parts from the previous high of around 2,000 to under 50,” said Eldho Abraham, Muvattupuzha MLA.

Despite a marginal drop, Muvattupuzha town and the neighbouring panchayats of Maradi, Valakom, and Payipra continue to be under water. Traffic on MC Road and national highways has been hit, and shops and other business establishments remain closed. Over 17,000 people have been accommodated in 37 camps in Muvattupuzha.

Water receded in Kothamangalam as well, though a series of landslips damaged two houses.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.