Kerala floods: Death toll touches 370, over 7 lac in camps


Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 19 (IANS): As the rain fury finally abated on Sunday, 724,649 people remained in 5,645 camps in Kerala following "one of the worst ever floods" that has left about 370 dead and caused unprecedented destruction.

"Our prime concern was to save lives. It appears it has been met," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the media amid signs that the most destructive phase of the floods had ended and that water overflowing numerous towns and villages had started to recede.

"It is perhaps one of the worst ever tragedies. Hence the loss caused is so huge. So we will accept all help," he said, revealing the extent of a tragedy which has not hit the state since 1924.

But even as Vijayan maintained that the last stage of rescue act was going on, various WhatsApp groups continued to be flooded with requests for help, especially from Alappuzha.

On Sunday morning, the authorities withdrew the red alert issued in the last of the three districts: Idukki, Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta.

There were only moderate rains in a few districts.

Naturally, with fishermen, NCC, Navy and Air Force continuing to rescue the marooned, Sunday saw the maximum evacuation of people from Chengannur, Pandalam, Thiruvalla, several areas in Pathanamthitta district and in Aluva, Angamaly and Paravur in Ernakulam.

The Chief Minister said 22,034 people had been rescued from flooded homes and buildings.

The death toll began on May 29 when Kerala got the first of the monsoon rains. But the bulk of the fatalities were reported after August 9, when a tragedy of unprecedented proportion gripped the state after sluice gates of several rain-filled dams were opened.

Vijayan said the next task would be to help people get back to normal life.

"Rehabilitation will be done by various agencies," he said, and pledged that all towns and cities would be cleaned on a war footing.

Vijayan paid special tributes to Kerala's famed fishermen who played a key role in rescuing hundreds and navigating through dangerous waters.

Every fisherman who took part in the rescue act would be given Rs 3,000 each, he said. "We will always be grateful for their support and help."

Students who lost their educational materials and uniforms would get new replacements.

Rains in the catchment areas of the big dams in Idukki district have subsided and the authorities have shut two of the five floodgates at the Idukki dam. The outflow of water from both the Mullaperiyar and Idukki dams has also reduced.

As a result, the water flow into the Periyar and its tributaries that flow through Ernakulam and Thrissur has come down.

On Sunday, the Kottayam sector operated special passenger trains. The state-run Kerala State Road Transport Corp also restarted operations on the MC Road to Kottayam.

But it is not as if all was going on smoothly.

Health Minister K.K. Shailaja admitted that although the water level had fallen in many areas, medical facilities might not have reached certain regions due to the magnitude of the crisis.

"This is because medical professionals found it difficult to reach the affected areas... We need a huge quantity of medicines. A major health drive is being planned to prevent communicable diseases," she said.

And with the water level coming down, it might not be possible to operate the big boats, forcing rescuers to rely on small or rubber boats.

But even as help poured into Kerala from all over the country and abroad, some vendors made a killing because of food shortages. Green chillies, even after police intervention, was selling at Rs 120 a kg in Kochi.

Onions, potatoes and cabbage were sold at Rs 90 a kg. The retail cost of rice and sugar shot up by Rs 15.

Some people who reached their homes in central Kerala were stunned after seeing mud and dirt accumulated on furniture, with practically all their possessions destroyed.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the central assistance of Rs 500 crore was too little. "The Prime Minister should declare this crisis as a national disaster."

The Kerala government has estimated the loss at Rs 19,500 crore.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Bengaluru/Katapadi

    Mon, Aug 20 2018

    BETTER NOT TO START BLAME GAIN THAN JOIN HANDS WITH THE STATE FOR REVIVAL

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Chetan Serrao, Bangalore

    Mon, Aug 20 2018

    Effect of Real estate mafia, Sand mafia, Timber mafia. Forests have been cut to make Layouts & make money. Hills have been destroyed by using bulldozers,JCB's. You make money but your money is not worth in front of this man made disaster.
    Rain made everyone equal, all stay in relief camps using the limited common resources there. God removed rich, poor devide for the time being.
    Time to learn some lessons.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Mon, Aug 20 2018

    43 people died in a bridge collapse in Italy.
    All were given a State Funeral & their families Rehabilitated.
    RIP India ...

    DisAgree Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Kishan kumar, Mangalore

    Mon, Aug 20 2018

    Curse of sabarimala.

    DisAgree [30] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santan Mascarenhas, Kinnigoli/Toronto

    Mon, Aug 20 2018

    Kerala and Karnataka governments are doing their best. But, while talking on donation, with the earlier experience in India, where donated aid did not reach the victims, some one said here:

    "Donations are collected from poor people by rich countries to help the rich people of poor countries". Hope such thing will not happen now.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Max and Jessie Rasquinha, Mangalore - Houston/Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

    Sun, Aug 19 2018

    It is a shocking matter to witness the devastation of Kerala due to floods and other consequences. It is also sad that hundreds of lives have been lost and many hundreds of thousands are displaced. The world attention is focused on a great State such as Kerala where people have been very hard working and enterprising, and this calamity has hit the people very badly.

    The State of Kerala is an unique place on earth They have always proved themselves self-sufficient in all their daily needs and aspirations. They are all highly educated. Calamity such as this has impacted the conscience of Kerala, and they need our help and support.

    It is amazing to witness, for the first time the Gulf Rulers have openly come forward to help Kerala. Each Dollar is precious during this time of emergency. Each blanket will help to prortect someone in need. Each packet of food will help to feed the hungry and distressed.

    Let us work together and help Kerala. They deserve the best.

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse


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