Normal life hit in upper Kuttanad

Most roads inundated; shortage of drinking water

The flood situation continued to remain grim in the upper Kuttanad region and other low-lying areas of Pathanamthitta on Monday. Normal life in upper Kuttanad has been badly affected with almost all roads in the region remaining inundated.

Flood waters, however, started receding from the upper reaches of the district with a respite in monsoon spell on Monday.

3 houses destroyed

According to official sources, three houses in the district were destroyed and 10 others damaged in the rain and flood in the past 24 hours.

Destruction of standing crops, especially plantain, is another major cause of worry to the peasants in the region. District panchayat member Sam Eapen said that paddy in the 25-acre Varalpaadom in Peringara village had almost been destroyed with the flood waters inundating the fields.

Many rural roads in upper Kuttanad too have been flooded, badly affecting the mobility.

Waterlogging of roads was reported even from the hill tracts of the district. The illegal reclamation of paddy fields and other low-lying areas in the district have already blocked many natural flood channels, leading to waterlogging of these roads. Many houses too have been flooded. Scarcity of potable water is another problem faced by the people as a good number of wells have been polluted with flood waters. Also, waterlines and public taps were submerged.

Heavy inflow

Meanwhile, the Kerala State Electricity Board authorities at Moozhiyar told The Hindu that the twin reservoirs of the Sabarigiri hydro-electric project at Kakki and Anathode had been witnessing heavy inflow for 48 hours.