Kerala - Kochi   

As the roar of the waves reverberate

Shyama Rajagopal

NATURE'S FURY: A man watches as waves surge across the damaged wall of his house at Kaithevelli. - Photo: H. Vibhu

KOCHI: The big waves looked menacing, but it did not terrify people down Kannamaly Road on Sunday. Those out on the streets on a holiday looked relaxed as the rainstorm on Friday and Saturday had subsided a little and the sun was up. They watched the sea roughing up the seawall, some of the waves managing to cross over the wall.

Ammini, who tried to keep her little grandchild indoors, said she had been terrified since the monsoon started picking up again during the last three days. The concrete wall between the seawall and her house was broken, and they try to finish their outdoor work when the sea allows them to.

Ammini's husband, O.A. Alby, who stopped going to the sea for fishing about seven years ago, wanted to sell his house and go elsewhere.

But, the family finds it difficult to sell the property. The Government also does not want to take it, he said.

Pointing to the small and rounded boulders on the seawall, Mr. Alby said the wall was built some 30 years ago. All the boulders had become round because of the constant friction with water, he added.

Thresia and Annamma, wives of fishermen, were busy getting drinking water for the family from the wayside pipe as the sea had receded a bit.

At one of the fishing gaps, a fisherman tried to net a few fish from the shores as the noontide started coming in.

A couple of marriage functions went off well, as people were able to attend the festivities. For them, it was as if the Gods had heard their prayers.

After keeping indoors for two days, the break in storm brought the children out who seemed to enjoy the holiday, even as their guardians looked and listened to the rough sea raging just across the wall.

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