Kerala slowly limps back to normal
CHIEF MINISTER ANNOUNCES COMPENSATION FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY FLOODS, AS 50,000 PEOPLE TAKE REFUGE AT VARIOUS RELIEF CAMPS
After three days of heavy rains in Kerala, the sun brought some respite as water levels in major dams receded and the coastal state began a slow return to normality yesterday.
By the end of the devastating downpours — and the opening of as many as 22 dams — more than 50,000 people had taken refuge in various relief camps.
At least 30 people died, official figures showed, and numerous houses and roads were destroyed.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan undertook a whistle-stop tour of the flood-affected areas yesterday, assuring them of all help from the state government.
At one of his stops in Kalpetta in Wayanad district, the chief minister announced an ex gratia payment of Rs400,000 (Dh21,310) to those who lost their houses, Rs600,000 to those whose land was lost in landslides, and Rs1 million to those who had lost both land and home.
Accompanying the chief minister were opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, revenue minister E. Chandrasekharan, state chief secretary Tom Jose, state police chief Loknath Behera, and additional chief secretary, P.H. Kurien.
Of the 50,000-plus people in relief camps, over 10,000 were in Ernakulam district alone. Ernakulam was affected owing to the waters from the Idukki dam, whose five flood gates were opened for the first time ever, rushing to the Arabian Sea via the Periyar River that flows through the district.
Local residents in Ernakulam complained of snakes and other reptiles and insects having entered their homes, apparently having floated in with the surging waters.
Film star at relief camp
Meanwhile, Cochin airport in a statement said flight operations are continuing uninterrupted and there has been no cancellations.
“We surmounted a night of anxiety. All systems worked properly. Our efforts to protect the operational area succeeded. Water levels in the surroundings having stabilised, flight operations at Cochin airport continue uninterrupted,” it said.
Malayalam film star Mammootty spread some cheer at a relief camp late on Friday evening when he called on people at the Thelathuruthu relief camp in Parur.
“Don’t lose heart over what has happened, we are all with you”, the actor reassured those lodged at the relief camp.
The actor’s arrival briefly helped the camp residents forget their woes, as some of them clicked photos with their favourite screen hero.
All five gates at the Idukki dam remained open, spewing out 750,000 litres of water per second from the state’s biggest dam. This is the first time ever that all five shutters at the dam have been opened. The waters inundated the low-lying Cheruthoni town located near the dam.
On Friday, the water level in the dam had risen to an alarming 2,401.77 feet, but continuous evacuation of water since Thursday brought the level down to just over 2,400 feet yesterday.
Despite the inconvenience caused by the flooding, the annual ‘Vavu Bali’ ritual at Aluva went ahead, with thousands of people remembering their departed loved ones during the ceremony. As a precautionary measure, authorities insisted that the faithful perform the ceremonies from the road, and not step into the surging waters of the Periyar river while conducting the rituals.
For those displaced by the rains and the subsequent floods and landslides, it is a long road back to normal life.
While some of them have lost their land and homes and can expect to be compensated by the state government, others have lost other precious items like documents including their title deeds, certificates, awards, identification cards and even school and college books.
When those who are in relief camps finally return home, they will have to virtually start life all over again, having lost all their personal items, home equipment, documents, valuables, and in some cases their homes themselves.
30 people have died in the floods, according to official figures