Kerala - Kozhikode   

Rain shows up city’s weak spots

KOZHIKODE: The rain havoc for the past two days seems to show that disaster management has not got due importance in the city. The rising water level confined people indoors in several residential colonies. Shops closed as the flood looked grim.

Rama Ramankutty Menon, president of Jawahar Nagar Residents Association, said the ongoing renovation of the road from Erhanipalam to Arayidathupalam blocked rainwater, leading to water-logging in her area. Neighbouring areas also are under water.

“The water which flowed into the area from Friday morning receded only by Saturday afternoon. Electricity went off for nearly 24 hours and was restored only by 11.30 a.m. on Saturday,” Ms. Menon said.

Power supply was cut off to prevent accidents as the water flowed into the transformer enclosure in the area. “More buildings are coming up in the area but the authorities have not ensured drains and other facilities,” she said.

District Collector A. Jayathilak said many roads did not have provision for drains. Funds should be allocated for constructing them.

T.J. Varkey, vice-president of Residents’ Apex Council of Kozhikode, said the Corporation had not got the drains cleared in time, which led to water-logging.

Flooding of Mavoor Road, Stadium junction and nearby places has added to the woes of shopkeepers. They had to shut their shops, some for two days as water entered the outlets. “They will not get enough customers since the area is inaccessible. Water flows into the shops from the Stadium junction to Puthiyara junction road as silting of drains has not been done,” says C.P. Abdurahiman, general convener, Kozhikode North Assembly constituency unit of Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi.

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