Deluge of destructions in hilly areas of Kozhikode

750 people shifted to relief camps; Thamarassery taluk worst-hit

A house destroyed in the flash flood subsequent to multiple landslips at Kannappankundu in Kozhikode on Thursday.

The torrential rains have left a trail of destruction to property in the district. Many houses have been washed away and crops destroyed at Mukkom, Karassery and Kodiyathur regions.

Landslips triggered by rain-induced flooding that started in the past two days forced about 750 people to relocate to relief camps on Thursday.

Some of the people have been moved to government-sponsored camps while others have been taken in by their relatives. About 200 people belonging to 65 households in the worst-affected Thamarassery taluk have been put up in four schools. Another 100 people from 35 families have been shifted to Kumaranalloor Azad School, while 35 others are residing at Kariyathanpara St. Joseph’s LP School in Kurachundu village.

Relief campus have also been opened at schools in Chakkittappara and Muthukad. Fifteen families in Mavoor grama panchayat have been moved to Kacherikunnu Samskarika Centre.

Rivers such as Iruvanji and Eengapuzha overflowed inundating large tracts of habitat. Most of the roads in the rural areas were submerged and remained disconnected for a long hours. Three hanging bridges at Vennakkode, Poyilangadi and Palakkutty were washed away in the floods.

The engineering wing of the Indian Army, National Disaster Response Force and other government agencies have been chipped in for the rescue and relief operations. Three defence teams from Bengaluru flew down to Calicut airport and separate task forces constituted for Kozhikode and Wayanad districts. Initially helicopters that took off from the airport to reach Thamarassery and affected parts of Wayanad had to return back following inclement weather.

The shutters of the both the Kuttiyadi and the Kakkayam dams in the district were opened considering the rising water level in the reservoirs. A Central team that visited the rain-affected areas would submit a report to the Centre within 10 days.

Ghat Road traffic hit

Vehicular traffic was disrupted at many places early on Thursday. Landslips on the ninth hairpin bend on the Ghat Road, which is the major link connecting Kozhikode to Wayanad, affected the movement of vehicles. It was only towards the evening that light motor vehicles and stranded vehicles were allowed to pass through the Ghat Road. The restriction imposed on heavy vehicles would continue, District Collector U.V. Jose said.