Bleak future awaits over 1.3m in camps
‘EVERYTHING IS LOST, WE ARE RUINED,’ A SURVIVOR TELLS CHIEF MINISTER DURING HIS VISIT TO THE SHELTERS
Rains have subsided in Kerala, but there seems to be no end to the destruction caused by the floods and landslides, which claimed close to 400 lives since August 8.
A bleak, uncertain future awaits the nearly 1.3 million people currently taking shelter at the relief camps in the state. “Everything is lost. We are ruined,” said an elderly woman, fighting back her tears.
Many houses are still under water and the ones which are standing have broken pots and pans strewn everywhere with a multitude of problems to boot.
Sabitha, who has registered at a camp in Pandalam, said she had a small shed for a home and now that too has been ruined due to the rains.
“Muddy waters entered my home when I was asleep with my son. I grabbed my child and escaped in the nick of time,” she said.
Seventy-five-year old Chellama was preparing to celebrate Kerala’s harvest festival Onam that falls on August 25 when disaster struck.
“I had bought rice, coconuts and other provision as Onam was round the corner. I could not save anything,” she said.
Jalaja, who returned to her small house from the camp at Pandanad near Chengannur, believes her home is in no condition to move back into. The only toilet in the house was overflowing and the well water was dirty.
“The well has to be cleaned. We need water to drink and to prepare food. The toilet has to be repaired. [Only] after all this, we can think of moving back”, she said.
Many women have no clothes to wear. “I left home in a hurry with my family. Since the last five days I am wearing the same clothes. Please give us something clean to wear,” said a woman, voicing the demand of thousands’ of women.
Comfort clothes like nighties and lungies are most sought-after in relief camps, according to authorities.
There has been no rain in the past three days, however flood water is yet to recede from many places. The situation is particularly critical in Kuttanad, which is one of the few places in the world where paddy farming is done 1.2 metre to 3 metre below sea level.
Flood waters receding is not the panacea for all ills. As
waters subsided in Cheruthoni in Idukki district, many were shocked to see huge deposits of sand and slush inside and outside their homes.
Many cannot even open the doors of their homes. Earthmovers are being used at many places to remove the accumulated mud and sand.
The heavy rains and consequent floods have caused an estimated loss of Rs200 billion (Dh10.48 billion) to the state. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan yesterday spent time with many of the people lodged in relief camps, giving ear to their problems, while assuring them of all help.
Vijayan took a helicopter to visit relief camps in Chengannur, Kozhencherry, Alappuzha, North Paravoor and Chalakudy, covering three districts.
‘No need for anxiety’
“There is no need for any anxiety, government will provide funds to rebuild homes,” Vijayan told people in the camps, many of whom were unable to hold back their tears. The government has also decided to handover kits containing foodgrains, rice, sugar and dal besides clothes for children and nighties for women to people returning homes from relief camps.
As the flood waters receded from their houses, people have complained of snakes crawling all over the place. Many have been bitten by snakes too, they said.
With the rescue operations almost over, a massive clean-up drive of houses and public places filled with mud deposits and debris has begun. Over 50,000 volunteers have taken up the task of cleaning up houses and public places filled with mud deposits and debris dumped by the floods.