Wet spell piles on the agony

Three killed, 262 people in relief camps

With the rains increasing in strength, 262 people have been shifted to relief camps in the district.

Officials of the district administration said wet spells over the weekend had damaged 12 houses and destroyed one. The estimated loss was Rs.19 lakh.

A rain-drenched Sunday also saw the deaths of three youths. They have been identified as S. Jithesh of Malaparamba who slipped into a drain at Nedukulam here; 18-year-old Muhammed Shafique, who drowned in a pool while bathing with friends near Parannur here; and K. Akhilesh, who slipped and fell into the Thirikakkayam waterfalls, where he was visiting with friends.

Of the three relief camps operating in the district, 30 families are lodged at the one in the Eranhipalam Housefed building; 18 families at Government Lower Primary School, Balussery; and 82 families have been shifted to the Velam Mappila Lower Primary school.

The district administration, in a high-level meeting of legislators led by Minister for Social Welfare and Panchayat M.K. Muneer on Sunday, said a request had been made for Rs.9.435 crore to deal with the monsoon calamities.

The losses have been calculated between June 1 and June 20. It also lists ex gratia payments to families of victims and for treatment of injuries, evacuation works, supply of medicines, repair to damaged water supplies, and other miscellaneous expenses. District Collector C.A. Latha reported that 386 houses have been damaged and nine destroyed.

A government order issued by the State Disaster Management Department has announced a payment of Rs.1 lakh to those whose houses have been destroyed. The order directed payment of compensation of Rs.1.5 lakh in case of death of a child in a family and Rs.2 lakh in case of an adult member.