Kerala - Kottayam   

Monsoon: toll rises to three in Kottayam

Staff Reporter

One body found in Thrissur district; 176 houses damaged

KOTTAYAM: Even as the district experienced temporary respite from heavy rain on Sunday, the body of Thankappan, 60, who was washed away by the waters of an inland rivulet in Panachikkad village on Saturday evening, was recovered, taking the death toll during the monsoon to three. One person is still missing.

Meanwhile, district authorities said 64 houses were damaged in the rain and heavy winds during the past 24 hours.

As many as 2,010 persons were housed in 35 relief camps, 28 of them in Kottayam taluk. They were being provided with free ration.

Life in the low-lying areas is becoming increasingly difficult. The worst affected is Vaikom taluk whose western and southern parts border the Muvattupuzha river and Vembanad lake respectively. Hundreds of houses in these areas remain inundated. The western parts of Vaikom municipality, Vechoor, Thalayazham, Udayanpuram, Maravanthuruthu and TV Puram areas are under threat from the rising water levels in the river and the lake. The people in these areas depend on traditional sectors such as farming as well as animal husbandry for their livelihood.

The district authorities said so far only one camp had been opened in the taluk. However, the local leaders are demanding that more camps be opened.

Staff Reporter writes from Thrissur:

Heavy rain and strong winds that lashed the district in the past few days subsided on Sunday. The body of Manoj, 33, son of Velayudhan of Keezhthani, who was reported missing in Mukundapuram taluk, was found on Sunday. Police said a flood had swept him away.

The ESI Quarters in Olarikkara was partially damaged in the rain on Saturday night.

District Collector M. Beena said that 176 houses were partially damaged on Saturday. Losses were estimated at Rs. 9.38 lakh.

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