Infra damage worrisome, says Keralite based in Lko
R Thomas, currently in his native village, says huge manpower will be needed to rebuild roads, buildings and bridges so that normalcy can return
LUCKNOW: Damage to houses, roads and other infrastructure is a major cause of worry for Keralites, who feel this would be a major issue once the water recedes.
R Thomas, a native of Kerala who works in Lucknow, is in his native land at present.
According to him, the damage to roads is so extensive that it is difficult for neighbouring states to extend help.
Not only this, road devastation is also bound to hamper life once water recedes.
“Money has reached and food packets are reaching from other states. But with broken roads and flattened electricity poles and telephone towers, it will be difficult to resume normal life,” Thomas told Hindustan Times on phone.
Thomas has his home in Kozhencherry village in Pathanamthitta district.
He had gone there on August 10 to attend a marriage and has been staying there since then.
“Water has houses, commercial buildings, hospitals and almost everywhere on the ground and has even reached the first floor at some places. Vehicles are drowned and buildings have developed cracks,” said Thomas, who is helping his neighbours and villagers to sustain despite the havoc.
He said that the next important thing that shall be arranged for Kerala was manpower.
“We will need people to rebuild infrastructure like roads, broken pillars, buildings and bridges so that life can come back to normal,” he said, adding: “Unless roads and bridges are repaired, nothing can move, not even help.”
He said the manpower in Kerala was not enough to help all the people at a given point of time.
Hence manpower would be crucial as the water receded.
“As all electricity poles have fallen, it would not be possible to reinstall them even if all staff works day and night,” he said.