Kerala - Kozhikode   

No let-up in rain in district

KOZHIKODE: Nearly 6,500 people in Kozhikode district have been classified as rain-affected in the past 24 hours, even as the rain refused to let-up on Friday.

Nine persons are reported to have died in the district in rain-related incidents since May 20.

Nearly 350 people have been injured, while the condition of 10 persons is reported to be serious.

As many as 117 villages have been severely affected by the rain. Initial estimates have pegged the loss in the district at Rs.19 crore. As many as 1,414 houses have been damaged and 16 houses destroyed in the rain. The damage to houses is estimated at Rs.2 crore.

Fourteen camps have been opened in the district. Authorities are making preparations to open more camps.

Nearly 314 hectares of agricultural land with standing crop has been waterlogged and crop loss has been pegged at Rs.1.86 crore.

One week’s free ration will be provided to the flood-affected persons.

The district supply office has been ordered to ensure that rations will be provided from Saturday.

A review meeting, presided over by Industries Minister Elamaram Karim, was convened at the Civil Station. M.K. Raghavan, MP; Kozhikode Mayor M. Bhaskaran; Deputy Mayor P.T. Abdul Latheef; District Collector P.B. Salim, City Police Commissioner S. Sreejith; and heads of agriculture, major and minor irrigation, Kuttiyadi irrigation, Public Works; Kerala State Electricity Board, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Health departments took part in the review meeting. Officials apprised the Minister of the losses suffered, measures taken and the obstacles involved in their functioning.

The water level in the Kakkayam Dam rose to 41.5 metres, inching close to the upper limit of 42 metres. Measures have been taken to evacuate people living on the banks of the Kuttiyadi river.

Dr. Salim directed all departmental heads to submit daily reports. Tahsildars have been told coordinate relief efforts in each taluk and evacuate people from areas in danger.

The Minister asked the officials to ensure that people in relief camps were provided blankets and straw mats.

The District Supply Officer has been asked to evaluate the amount of ration to be distributed and to clear unsettled dues of ration shop owners.

City Police Commissioner S. Sreejith asked the district administration to provide the police force with inflatable rafts as rescue efforts were hampered by inaccessibility to the flood-hit areas. The Commissioner also requested electric saws and generators.

He said that leave applications of all policemen in the flood-hit areas had been cancelled and they had been directed to report for duty.

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