Disease fears grow among refugees from floods disaster
FEARS of disease outbreaks among people crammed into relief camps in the southern state of Kerala have emerged as some 800,000 people have been displaced in the monsoon flooding disaster.
Incessant downpours since Aug 8 have caused the worst floods in a century in the state.
The India Meteorological Department forecast heavy rainfall in only one or two parts of Kerala yesterday and withdrew a red alert in several districts.
Using boats and helicopters, the military led rescue efforts to reach people in communities cut off for days, with many trapped on roofs and upper floors, in desperate need of food and clean water.
Rescue teams were focused on the town of Chengannur on the banks of the Pamba River, where about 5,000 people are feared to be trapped.
Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala’s chief minister, said the total number of people taking refuge at the 5,645 relief camps had risen to 725,000.
Thirteen deaths were reported yesterday, he added, taking the total who perished in the rising waters and landslides to nearly 200.
Anil Vasudevan, who handles disaster management at Kerala’s health department, said authorities had isolated three people with chicken pox in one of the relief camps in Aluva town 155 miles from Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital.
He said the department was preparing to deal with a possible outbreak of waterborne and airborne diseases in the camps. Kochi’s airport is closed due to waterlogging.