Rains play havoc; hundreds shifted to relief camps

Thiruvananthapuram, July 4 (UNI) The South West Monsoon continued to play havoc in Kerala, forcing hundreds of people into relief camps, damaging standing crops and destroying houses worth Rs 2.29 crore.

As many as 1,000 people were shifted to relief camps as coastal and low lying areas continued to be threatened by sea erosion and floods, sources said.

In Kasargode District, four camps were opened today and 500 people shifted from coastal Kasaba in the wake of sea erosion. Three camps were opened in Wayanad where 100 people were sheltered, they said and added about 250 people were accommodated in three camps in Alappuzha.

They said about 100 houses were completely destroyed and as many as 1,500 houses partially damaged, causing a loss of about Rs 56.54 lakh. After the monsoon hit the state, the total number of houses completely damaged stood at 224 and partially damaged at 20,000.

In Kasargode, they said 19 houses were completely destroyed and 53 partially damaged. Meanwhile, 230 houses were partially damaged in Kottayam, 170 houses in Wayanad, 22 in Thrissur, 208 in Thiruvananthapuram and 38 in Kollam.

Standing crop in about 24.45 hectare were damaged in Kasargode, causing a loss of about Rs 14.65 lakh. In Wayanad, loss of standing crop in 96.82 hectare was estimated at Rs 1.51 crore. Crop in 28 hectare in Kollam district was also destroyed, causing loss of 0.87 Lakh. Total agriculture loss was calculated to be Rs 42 crore.

They said one person was killed and another went missing today.

Kochu Cherukan (80) was drowned in Alappuzha and Razak (33) went missing in Kozhikode.

Meanwhile, the Met office here said the highest rainfall of 15 cm was recorded at Manathawadi followed by Varkala, six cm. Five cm rain was received at Mannarkad, Ambalavayal and Haripad. Nilambur, Thiruvananthapuram, Munnar, Konni and Vadakara got four cm rain.

It also warned of isolated heavy rains and strong onshore winds with a speed of 50/60 kmph from the westerly direction, along the Kerala coast and Lakshadweep.

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