Sitting on a verandah of the SDV School for Boys in Alappuzha, Omana Raveendran, 65, is listening carefully to a volunteer who is reading loud the names of people from a list. Inside the room, women, children and the elderly are picking clothes closest to their size from a collection donated by generous people and voluntary organisations.
“We came to the relief camp with just the clothes we were wearing. Our house was submerged and we took a small country boat to escape drowning,” says Ms. Raveendran. She along with her son, daughter-in-law and grand daughter are among 538 people from different parts of Kuttanad living under one roof for the past four days. In Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, normal life has come to a standstill for a second time in a month owing to the floods.
Of the 2.5 lakh population of the region, a majority of the people have been moved to relief camps in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts following fresh flooding. An unknown number of people moved to their relative’s homes in different places.
A fragile Sarojini, 68, walking with heavy steps past a group of children who are playing after a meal of fish curry from the food distribution centre in the compound, says: “The people of Kuttanad are destined to live in relief centres.” She was referring to the recurring floods in the region.
Ms. Sarojini is sharing space with 16 others in a classroom, and sleeps on a mat provided by the government. “I am happy with the facilities provided here. What else can I expect in a difficult time like this? They are providing enough food, water and clothing. But there is nothing left in my home. My house at Kainakary is completely submerged,” she says, wiping a tear.
Apart from Kuttanad, the floods also badly hit Chengannur where, at the relief camp at the Christian College, Sajini’s little daughter is asleep on her shoulder. “She is tired after being stranded on the terrace of our house (at Kallissery) for four days,” says Ms. Sajini. “We can go through this ordeal, but our children can’t. But the biggest thing is that we are all alive.”
All though there were issues regarding toilet facilities in some of the camps, officials said bio-toilets had been set up in most camps. Over 2.7 lakh people are staying in 662 camps in the district.
