Scarcity of drinking water

“Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.”

Precisely, this is what the plight of the people of Upper Kuttanad too that has been remaining submerged in the flood waters for the past one week.

The flood waters that entered this low-lying paddy bowl of Central Travancore a week ago has been struggling to find an escape route.

Almost all wells in the flood-hit areas have been inundated and polluted, making sufficient stock of potable water a distant dream to the flood victims.

The Upper Kuttanad villages of Niranom, Kadapra, Peringara and Nedumpram in Thiruvalla tauluk are the worst-affected villages.

The week-long inundation of human dwellings and wells have made life miserable for the people.

Non-availability of potable water is a major problem facing the affected areas.

Though the pipelines of the Kerala Water Authority are live, a majority of taps are under flood water. The flood-induced overflowing of human waste collection tanks of toilets have polluted the wells.

In certain areas of Peringara, people are using a crude method to filter the well water as an interim arrangement as there was no other way to meet to their daily water needs.Non-availability of Liquid Petroleum Gas is another problem facing these flood-hit areas.

Rice, provisions, and drinking water stocked at many houses have almost finished. Any further delay in the receding of water from these flood-hit areas will force the remaining families too to seek refuge at the relief camps opened by the administration.

Rodents, pests, snakes and other reptiles have also sought refuge on the roofs, pits and other available spaces at the human dwellings.