The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : People on the alert in Chellanam, business as usual in Fort Kochi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 31, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

People on the alert in Chellanam, business as usual in Fort Kochi

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, DEC. 30. Women and children packing valuables and leaving for rehabilitation centres on buses, mini-lorries and autos, men keeping guard to houses, boats berthed on roads, ambulances parked along the roadside, police and fire force vehicles zooming past... This was the scene at Saudi, Chellanam and Kannamali on the Ernakulam coast, this afternoon. It was no different at Pallithode in the northern part of Alappuzha district. Panic gripped the region after news channels beamed flash reports that the sea was likely to turn aggressive.

Fort Kochi `safe'

It was a different scene on the Fort Kochi beach. Business went on as usual though the water level was yet to recede in some areas. Both domestic and foreign tourists and the holiday crowd from the city ventured out to the beach as usual.

Jamie and Hester, tourists from Britain, said that they felt safe in Fort Kochi. "We are staying at Princess Street near the beach," said Mr. Jamie. Several groups of foreign tourists could be seen eating sea food from wayside eateries, unmindful of the possibility of another tsunami strike.

Thampi K.A. and K.C. Sebastian, personnel of the Tourist Police in Fort Kochi, said that there had been no fall in the arrival of tourists to the beach. Many fishermen ventured out into the sea today. Those fishing with the Chinese fishing nets also went about their work as usual.

Chellanam

In Chellanam and Kannamali, the police went around in jeeps warning people of the perceived threat. The seawater swept across the land after breaching the seawall at some places. Most of the shops remained open in the area. There was also the threat of the newly-laid road being washed away.

Food and relief materials were sent to relief camps in Kumbalangi. "Panic set in after news spread that the water level rose in Vypeen and Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram," said Jaison V. Edward, political activist.

Dozens of fishing boats were berthed on the roads at South Chellanam in the fear that they would be washed away. KSRTC buses were deployed to evacuate people to relief camps. Ambulances were seen parked every few kilometres. "Many boats berthed on the beach were damaged by the tsunami on Sunday. I have lost property estimated at Rs.40,000. With no job for a week now, some fishermen have ventured out into the sea," said Xavier Menangad, a fisherman.

Water scarcity

Wells and hand pumps have become ineffective with saline water seeping into them. People who have stayed back at their homes are buying potable water at Rs.2 a bucket. Water supplied by the Kerala Water Authority and local bodies is inadequate to meet the demands of the people. Valuables, books and certificates of many people were damaged after sea water entered their homes.

The scene is no different at Pallithodu off Chellanam on the Ernakulam-Alappuzha border. The number of people in the relief camp at the Tirumala Dewaswom School has gone up from 2,200 on Sunday to 5,000 today. "People arrived here on autos, buses and mini-lorries. Some men are staying back in their areas to prevent theft. The situation is grim in Andhakaranazhi and its suburbs with the threat of contagious diseases looming over," says Dileep Kannadan, member, Pattanakkad block panchayat.

Doctors are present at the camp to extend medical care to the patients.

Disinfectants are being sprayed to prevent the outbreak of contagious diseases.

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