Cyclonic winds and heavy rains that swept the eastern hill areas in Kannur district over the past 24 hours left a trail of destruction of properties and standing crops as flooding and landslide in some parts continued to affect normal life.
Ayyankunnu panchayat bordering Karnataka bore the brunt of the heavy rain and the subsequent flash floods as the Barapuzha was in spate posing threat to houses and crops on the river banks. A bridge, Vazhayilpalam, across the river was swept away in flood waters late night on Sunday. The bridge was built nearly 10 years ago the MP’s local area development fund project. A car that was moving on the bridge at the time was also swept in the floods. Two people inside the car swam to safety.
Thalassery Tahsildar K. Subair, who was visiting the area to assess the situation, told The Hindu over phone that three families at Vaniyappara was totally isolated as a culvert was damaged in the landslide in the area. He said efforts were under way to shift the families to a safe area. A house in the area was in danger of being destroyed by a swollen rivulet, Randamkadavuthodu, that changed its course following heavy flooding due to continuous rains that lashed the area for the past three days, he said adding that the occupants in the house was shifted to a relative’s house. One more family was affected by the flood water, he added. He also said that the loss caused by the calamity was being estimated.
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Officials of the Pazhassi Irrigation Project Division here said that the shutters of the Pazhassi project barrage were being opened to discharge the water and the flooding caused rising of water in the reservoir. The water was being released as a flood-control measure, they added.
Several houses were damaged in the heavy winds that hit Vallyayi area near Panur here on Sunday evening. Over 20 houses and large number of standing crops, especially arecanut palms and plantain trees, were damaged.