With heavy rain lashing the district for over 20 hours continuously, many parts of Ernakulam have been flooded. The rise in water level in Periyar had a major impact on the flood situation of the district.
The impact of the heavy rain and the resultant flooding was mostly felt in the eastern parts of the district. Flood waters marooned many houses and commercial establiments in Aluva, Paravur and Perumbavoor.
Many families were feared trapped in their homes in places like Kadunagalloor, Thottakattukara, Karumalloor, Thuruthu, Desom, Kalady, Companypady, Manjali, Veliyathunad, Malikampeedika, Paravoor Kavala, Chowara, Eloor North Paravur, etc. Search and rescue operations are going on full throttle in the district. As many as 18 groups were out on the streets to rescue people who were stranded in many parts of the district.
The social media was flooded with distress calls seeking help to rescue the stranded. Revenue department officials said that rescue teams comprising personnel of Army, Navy, National Disaster Rescue Force, State Disaster Management Authority, Coast Guard, and Department of Fire and Rescue Services.
Roads, railways affected
Mobility in the district has been hit with most roads being inundated. A large number of interior roads were also flooded. Roads that take one to the neighbouring districts have also been flooded making the vehicular movement along the routes a risky affair.
Rain-induced havoc continues in different parts of Ernakulam
Rail services were suspended temporarily through the bridge number 176 between Aluva and Angamaly following the increase in water levels. Hundreds have been shifted to relief camps in Aluva. Fire force officials said that they were receiving hundreds of distress calls from areas close to the banks of Periyar. "We had actually requested many of them to evacuate on Wednesday itself, but they preferred to stay back. Rescue efforts are progressing as we have to reach out to hundreds of homes," said a senior official of the Fire and Rescue Services.
People shifted to relief camps were facing problems like shortage of food and other essential items. Several people pointed out that they were also facing acute shortage of drinking water. The district administration has called for help from individuals and organisations in providing food, medicine and other essentials to the flood-affected.
Currently, 239 camps are functioning in the district where 11,056 families have sought shelter. It is estimated that over 40,000 persons have been shifted to camps.
(Reported by G Krishnakumar from Kochi and K.S. Sudhi from Ernakulam)
