Since this year’s southwest monsoon touched its coasts on June 1, Kerala has received 42 per cent excess rainfall till date compared to the expected normal.
The copious rainfall this monsoon was supposed to be boon to the people of Kerala but has already brought severe loss of life and property. As many as 169 deaths were reported in the State since June 1 and official estimates put the total losses at `190 crore.
Crops in 10,514 hectares of land are said to have been destroyed incurring a loss of `125 crore. As many as 713 houses were totally destroyed in rains and floods while the number of partially damaged homes is put at 12,714. The State has also suffered losses worth `39 crore in the infrastructure sector.