At least ten houses were destroyed and a hundred others damaged in sea erosion in the Valiyathura and Poonthura coastal villages in Thiruvananthapuram district as heavy rains lashed several parts of southern Kerala. Heavy summer showers that had started on Monday night were continuing even on Tuesday evening in many places including Kochi.
According to weathermen, the heavy showers caused by a low pressure system lying over northwest Bay of Bengal close to the Tamil Nadu coast may continue through this week. Most districts of Kerala, which had this year seen one of the worst summers in recent history, have been receiving moderate to heavy rains since last weekend.
People in Valiyathura and Poonthura blocked the main roads in the area protesting against the authorities’ apathy to their plight. “Nobody has come here to enquire about our condition. One row of the houses on the shore has been taken away by the sea. The next may be taken away any moment. We need a permanent solution to this,” said Jameela, a fisherwoman in Poonthura.
Sea erosion was reported from villages like Purakkad in the coastal areas of Alappuzha district. Several houses got waterlogged as the sea waves climbed in by several metres to the shore in a long stretch between the fishing villages in Alappuzha and Ernakulam districts. The Alappuzha district collector instructed Tahsildars to open relief camps as per the gravity of the situation.
Fishermen living on the edge of the coast in Purakkad said that the main reason for the disaster was not the sea erosion as such but the unscientific way in which the sea wall had been built. “Either the funds are not allotted or funds allotted by the Centre are not utilised. Either way, we are left to live under perpetual threat,” said a fisherman in Purakkad.
Sekhar Kuriakose, member of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, said that different Government departments had been given instructions on the measures to be taken to meet the emergencies if any occurred. “The rain situation may continue till May 19. Precautions have to be taken,” the scientist said.
Heavy rains were also reported from the high ranges of Kottayam an Idukki districts. Summer showers had slowed down polling for the Assembly election at several booths in Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts on Monday. Many areas of Kochi city remained waterlogged due to the rains that had started on Monday night and continued through Tuesday.