On a day when the showers stayed off and there was a marked decrease in the amount of water released by the Idukki and Idamalayar dams into the Periyar, rescue operations were at a frenetic pace, as distress calls continued to pour in from parts of Paravur and Aluva through the night on Friday into Saturday morning.
Rescuers and volunteers were able to together bring to safety about 54,800 people. At last count, there were 597 flood relief camps in Ernakulam district with 1,81,607 people from 47,138 families. Besides the forces, volunteers and fishers used boats, canoes and barges to rescue those marooned. More people were able to reach safer destinations when the floodwaters receded by Saturday evening.
Jimesh, a laboratory assistant, said a group of 1,200 people who had taken refuge at the Government Higher Secondary School building at Kongorpilly, off Koonammavu, was being rescued in batches and shifted to a school at Koonammavu. “Some of us were unwell and were in need of medicines. So, we sent out messages. We are happy that someone helped us and rescuers came looking for us in the morning. Only about 400 people remained to be shifted now,” he said. The area continued to be under at least 8-ft water, though there was a let up in flooding since morning, he said.
Kadungalloor rescue ops
At Kadungalloor, the police and fishers worked together to evacuate to safety almost every person who had been stranded. With more people reaching the camps, there were calls and messages for food, baby food, sanitary napkins, essential clothing, medicines and blankets. Volunteers and charity workers had formed WhatsApp groups to attend to the needy while non-governmental organisations and the district administration also continued their effort to make food and material available at camps. Shortage of drinking water was another problem.
At last count, Kochi had 36 camps with 30,000 people from 7,560 families; Kunnathunad had 28,630 people from 6,367 families across 72 camps; Kothamangalam ran 37 camps for 5,892 individuals from 1,600 families; and Paravur, which bore the brunt of the flooding, had opened 171 camps in which a total of 51,150 people from 14,600 families had taken shelter.
Aluva had 128 camps with 32,000 people from 8,000 families; Kanayannur had 15,223 people from 4,335 families sheltered in 65 camps; and Muvattupuzha had 88 camps where 18,712 people belonging to 4,676 families were sheltered.
Minister takes stock
Education Minister C. Ravindranath reviewed the situation in the district at the control room at Pathadipalam rest house.
Five NDRF teams, 17 Naval troops, five Coast Guard troops and three Army troops were deployed in the district. Arrangements were in place to provide food, clothing and medicines to people sheltered in the camps, the administration said.
