Harvest festival celebrations hit by flooding

NEW DELHI: Many residents of flood-hit Kerala forewent traditional harvest festival celebrations yesterday as a stream of people living in relief camps trudged home to clean up mud and debris and recover what they could of their belongings.

More than 100 000 homes, about a third of those affected by the devastating floods, have been cleaned up so far and electricity has been restored in several areas, said Kerala’s chief minister Pinarayi Vijaya.

At least 231 people have died since August 8 in floods that wrought havoc to businesses, homes, crops and infrastructure.

A government estimate put the damages at around 200 billion rupees (R40bn).

Onam, an annual Hindu harvest festival, traditionally includes feasts, new clothes, as well as light and flower arrangements.

In an appeal for charitable contributions, the government said 26 750 buckets and mops, 20 000 pairs of gumboots and 40 000 volunteers were needed to speed up cleaning operations the six badly-affected administrative districts.

“Let’s celebrate this #Onam by bringing help to those among us who are suffering. More than a million of our people are in relief camps. We have together survived the worst disaster in our state’s history. Let us also set an example in rebuilding efforts,” Vijayan said.

“The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with Kerala and prays for the happiness as well as prosperity of its citizens,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a message marking Onam. – dpa