The Hindu : Front Page : Monsoon claims 20 more lives

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Monday, Jun 25, 2007
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Monsoon claims 20 more lives

Kerala Bureau

Crops worth Rs.12.79 crore lost

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Twenty more persons lost their lives in monsoon-related incidents in the State on Sunday despite a let-up in the fury of the rain, according to the Disaster Management Control Room here.

Nine deaths were reported from Kozhikode district, three from Kannur and two from Ernakulam on Sunday. Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Thrissur reported one death each, a control room official said.

The high death toll in Kozhikode district follows the recovery of the bodies of seven persons who had gone in a tug from Vadakara coast on Friday. There were 14 persons in the tug when it capsized in the rough seas. Two persons were still missing. The bodies of the remaining persons were recovered on Saturday.

Vipin Geet of Elathur and Rafiq of Beypore, both in their teens, were the others who lost their lives in Kozhikode district. The former drowned in a swollen paddy field, while the latter slipped and fell into a pond and died of a head injury. According to data compiled from various districts, rain and floods had damaged crops in more than 1,600 hectares in the State, causing an estimated loss of Rs.12.79 crore. The damage was most severe in Kannur district, where standing crop in 470 hectares was lost.

As many as 249 houses were destroyed and 4,683 other partially damaged in rain, high-velocity wind and sea erosion in the State. The loss on this count was estimated to be more than Rs.4.5 crore, the official said.

Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran said the Government had instructed District Collectors to ensure that the families of those killed in the monsoon received an assistance of Rs.50,000 each within 48 hours of the reporting of the deaths.

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