SCALE OF DAMAGE UNCLEAR
people face great struggle to rebuild their lives after the devastating floods: vijayan
People are lodged in relief camps across the state
The people of the floodbattered Kerala are “in a great struggle to rebuild their lives,” the state’s chief minister said on Wednesday, as aid workers warned it could take days before the full scope of the destruction is clear.
Though rains have stopped over the past three days and floodwaters are receding, vast swaths of the tropical state, known for its idyllic villages and beautiful beaches, remain underwater or coated with mud, and many people have no drinking water or electricity.
“We know the humanitarian needs are enormous, but it will be some time before we know just how big that is,” Ray Kancharla, a manager with the aid group Save The Children, said in a Tuesday statement. “Roofs and walls have collapsed; roads have been completely washed away.” He estimated it could take “well over a week” before the effects of the devastation are clear.
Torrential downpours began hammering Kerala on August 8, more than two months into the annual monsoon season, setting off devastating floods that left more than 200 people dead and sent more than 800,000 fleeing for dry land.
“The people of Kerala are in a great struggle to rebuild their lives after the flood,” said the state’s chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, sending his greetings for the festival of Eid Al Adha. “May this Eid be an inspiration for all of them,” he said on Twitter.
On the island of Kunjunnikkara, about 20 kilometres from Kochi, hundreds of Muslims undeterred by the flooding gathered Wednesday at a local mosque for Eid prayers. They also prayed at a nearby cemetery for those who had lost their lives in the floods.
Meanwhile, the Southern Naval command on Wednesday called off its 14-day long rescue operations in the flood-hit Kerala, saying there were no more requests for evacuation as waters receding in affected areas.
It also said the Naval personnel rescued a total of 16,005 people during ‘Operation Madad’, launched on August 9 for assisting the state administration and undertaking disaster relief operations.
“The Southern Naval Command recalled all rescue teams deployed for #OperationMadad as flood waters receded and no more requests for rescue were received,” a Defence release said here. According to the Disaster Management State Control room, 231 people have lost their lives and 32 are missing in floodrelated incidents since August 8.
The Congress on Wednesday said that the floods were manmade and due to faulty dam management.
Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala told the media that the tragedy took place because of lack of coordination between the Power Minister, the Water Resource Ministers and the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB).
“This monsoon, Kerala received 41.44 per cent more rains and all the (sluice gates of the) dams were opened without proper analysis or impact studies... People were totally unaware that the dams were being opened,” he said.
In Kerala, the dams are managed either by the KSEB or the Water Resources Ministry. The worst affected districts due to the floods were Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Wayanad which have the maximum number of dams. “The rains this season were far less than in 1924. The tragedy that took place this time was because weather forecasts were overlooked and callousness,” the Congress leader said. “The Idukki dam’s maximum water capacity is 2,403 feet. Since July 15, its capacity had reached 90 per cent. On July 31, the water level was at 2,395.68 feet and Power Minister M.M. Mani said a trial run would be conducted when the level touches 2,397 feet. —
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