The Hindu : Kerala News : Two killed, many hurt in Kannur

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 24, 2007
ePaper

Kerala

Kerala

Two killed, many hurt in Kannur

Staff Reporter

Monsoon takes its toll on crop and property in district

Kannur: Two persons died and several injured in monsoon-related calamities in the district on Saturday as incessant rain and heavy winds wreaked havoc on crops and properties.

At Chootad in Madayi village, M. Padmanabhan, 55, a fisherman, died when a portion of his house collapsed in early on Saturday. At Kappimala in Alakkode village A. Narayanan died when a tree fell on him in the morning. At least 11 persons were injured in different parts of the district.

Cyclonic wind and heavy rain that struck the district in the morning left a trail of destruction of properties and crops. Power supply was disrupted in most parts of the district as uprooted trees snapped electricity lines. Road traffic was also hit by fallen trees and flooded roads.

Perumbadavu, about 40 km from here, bore the brunt of nature’s fury. Tiles of most of the old buildings at Perumbadavu town were blown away by sweeping winds in the mooning. Officials were still assessing the extend of damage in the area. Hundreds of coconut and arecanut plants and rubber plants were uprooted in the wind that lasted for a few minutes.

Over 100 coconut palms and 150 arecanut trees on a two-acre plot of Palamoottil Vakkachan were struck down in the wind. Nearly 250 plantains cultivated by Parumthamoottil Varky were fully destroyed. Simon George Palamoottil, a local farmer, said that loss of crops in the area was so extensive that it would take some time to assess the loss.

Several trees were uprooted and roadside kiosks turn upside down at Perumbadavu, he said. Bishop Valloppilly Jubilee Memorial High school at Perumbadavu also suffered damage in the wind.

At Arattukadavu in Pulingome village eight people were injured when their houses caved in. They have been admitted to Pariyaram Medical College Hospital. Three people were injured at Kottiyoor when a tree fell on them.

Dozens of houses in different parts of the district were partially damaged in the heavy rain and wind over the last 24 hours. This included 14 houses each at Koovery, Payyavoor and Aalapadamba and several houses at Perimgome.

The rooftop hall of the Kannur Press Club was damaged as the heavy wind smashed the brick walls and glass panes in the morning. The loss is estimated at Rs.1 lakh. A nearby showroom of Handveev also suffered damage when bricks fell on its roof.

A relief camp was opened at Mappila LP School at Chengalayi to shift several families whose houses were flooded. Road traffic was hit by floodwaters on the Thaliparamba-Iritty State highway and at Chengalayi and Parippay.

An old building on MA Road near the railway station collapsed last night. Vehicular movement in the town was disrupted in the morning when trees feel on the road near the PWD office at Kaanothumchal. KSEB officials said that works were on in different parts of the district to restore electricity by night.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala