Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Rain causes extensive damage

T. Ramavarman

Total human casualties put at 94; infrastructure loss Rs.10 crore

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As many as 94 persons have lost their lives in various rain-related incidents in different parts of the State after the onset of the southwest monsoon by May-end.

According to top officials in the Revenue Department, the highest figure of 21 human casualties has been reported from Kozhikode, followed by Kasaragod where 12 persons lost their lives. There have been reports of 10 deaths from Allappuzha and eight each from Kottayam and Wayanad.

They said that as per preliminary estimates, the rain has damaged crops in about 10,103 hectares and loss on this account is estimated at Rs.60 crore. Thiruvananthapuram (1,829 hectares), Kasaragod (1,509 hectares), Kollam (1,208 hectares), and Kottayam (1,000 hectares) are the districts that are worst hit in terms of crop loss.

The estimates indicate that the rain has destroyed 1,137 houses completely and partially damaged 19,459 houses. An early analysis puts the total loss in this sector at Rs.13.87 crore.

The rain has caused severe damage to infrastructures such as roads, bridges, public buildings, including schools and common wells, in many areas of the State. The loss in this sector has been initially estimated as Rs.10 crore.

The officials said 83 relief camps have been opened in different places and nearly 7,100 people shifted to the camps from areas facing calamities such flood, sea erosion and landslip.

Land Revenue Commissioner Nivedita P Haran held a video-conference with district-level officials on Tuesday to review the monsoon relief works.

The officials said the monsoon fury was severe in the northern districts. The damage is less in the southern districts. Steps have been taken to provide free ration to all areas affected by the rain. The district authorities have been given adequate funds to provide assistance to the victims of rain fury and to carry out emergency relief and rehabilitation works.

District officials have been asked to submit a detailed account of the loss in different sectors by July 6, so that the State would be able to give a detailed memorandum for Central assistance. An all-party delegation is leaving for New Delhi on July 4 under the leadership of Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan to apprise Central leaders of the damage caused by monsoon.

Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), comprising 32 personnel each, have been posted at Kozhikode and Allappuzha to assist the local authorities in carrying out relief work.

While the team in Kozhikkode is for the northern districts the team at Allappuzha is meant for the South. Experts from the Centre for Earth Sciences Studies (CESS) are visiting the landslip areas in districts such as Wayanad and Idukki to recommend the steps to be taken to contain the damage and prevent the recurrence of such incidents, the officials said.

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