Kerala - Kollam   

More relief camps opened in Kollam

Staff Reporter

Water-logging forces people to stay in relief camps

MAROONED: A waterlogged colony in Kollam city.

KOLLAM: The district administration on Tuesday opened 11 relief camps for those affected by the heavy rain on Sunday, taking the total number of camps to 79.

The camps now house 3,610 families comprising 13,206 persons. On Monday, there were 11,063 persons from 3,038 families in the camps. Collector B. Srinivas ordered a holiday on Wednesday for those schools functioning as relief camps.

On Tuesday, ten houses were fully destroyed and 165 suffered partial damages. So far, 88 houses were fully destroyed and 1,634 houses partially damages in the rain.

The damage suffered on Tuesday was put at Rs.26.81 lakh. The total loss in the district was estimated at around Rs.86 lakh. There were no report showers from any part of the district.

The clogging of natural drains was seen as the cause for water-logging, with areas close to water bodies suffering the most.

These areas had ample natural draining facilities through which rainwater flowed into the sea or lake without causing any deluge.

Constructions blamed

But reckless construction and real estate activities clogged most of these natural outlets. This was the reason why those at the relief camps had to remain there despite rain subsiding in the last two days.

Water-logging is also posing health problems as these areas are vulnerable to epidemics. The Health Department has sounded an alert in this connection, especially because Kollam is yet to be declared free from chikungunya.

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