Post-rescue, it’s time for relief work

Boats, choppers will be used to distribute food packets, says Pathanamthitta Collector

The course of the Pampa in the foothills of Sabarimala after the flood

The rescue operations in the flood-hit areas of Pathanamthitta district were completed by evening on Monday and the administration would now concentrate on relief work from Tuesday, District Collector P.B.Noohu has said.

According to Mr. Noohu, motorboats and helicopters will be used for the distribution of food packets in the affected areas on Tuesday. He said choppers were used for supplying food packets in the heavily flooded remote areas of upper Kuttanad on Monday.

Two helicopters of the Indian Air Force and another one of the ONGC would be used for food distribution in the flood-hit areas of upper Kuttanad on Tuesday, he said.

These choppers would airdrop food packets for the affected people staying on rooftops and in various isolated places in the upper Kuttanad villages of Kadapra, Niranom, Peringara, Nedumpram, and parts of Kuttoor, Arattupuzha in Kozhencherry taluk, and at Sabarimala, Mr. Noohu said.

The Collector said the food for distribution in relief camps would be routed through food hubs set up at the respective taluk offices. He said steps had been taken for cleaning wells, toilets, roads, etc, in the flood-hit areas and to ensure supply of safe drinking water.

515 relief camps

The administration has opened 515 relief camps where 70,000 people have been accommodated.