While rain kept away for most hours of the day, rough waves continued to pound the coastal belt of the district on Monday.
Many houses, particularly in the coastal areas, suffered damage and were rendered uninhabitable. Twelve coastal families had to move to safer zones after water entered their huts in Vettucaud. The houses, situated between the first and second row of houses in the area, had remained exposed to the strong waves for some months now, official sources said.
Many fishing boats were damaged after they collided against each other in the rough waves that battered the coastal area of Thazhe Vettoor in Varkala. While 14 boats were partially damaged, three boats suffered extensive damage. Besides, water entered around 40 houses in the area, prompting many to shift to their relatives’ houses.
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Anjuthengu, which witnessed an agitation by the fishing community a day ago, also remained under the threat of widespread destruction. One house was fully damaged in Nagaroor and another partially damaged in Thiruvallam after uprooted trees, brought down by heavy winds, fell on the structures. However, none of the residents were injured. The district administration has opened a relief camp at Mampally, near Anjuthengu. As many as 44 people of 12 families have been rehabilitated at the facility.
The four shutters of the Neyyar dam, which was raised by 18 inches a day ago, were closed for a short while before being opened to the same level.
The temporary closure was to facilitate the search operation, being led by the Neyyar dam police, to locate an engineering student, Divya, 20, of Thevencode, who had fallen from the Mukundara bridge in Kallikad into the Neyyar river on Sunday. The rescue team was yet to locate the woman.
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Two shutters of the Aruvikkara dam remained raised by 90 cm and 60 cm respectively, while three shutters of the Peppara dam was raised by 50 cm each.