Two killed, Thousands in relief camps as rains play havoc

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 22 (UNI) Two people were killed and one injured while thousands of people moved to relief camps, as torrential rains under the impact of the South West Monsoon continued to wreck havoc in Kerala during the past 24 hours.

One person was killed in Thiruvananthapuram and another in Kollam. A woman was injured in landslides at Moolamattam in Idukki district.

As many as 8,000 people were shifted to relief camps as coastal and low lying areas continued to be threatened by sea erosion and floods, sources said.

With the two deaths reported today, the toll in Monsoon related incidents rose to 18, they said.

Thiruvananthapuram, Alapuzha and Kollam districts were the worst hit by sea erosion and more people were being shifted to relief camps, they said.

As of now 311 houses were fully destroyed and 3,600 partially destroyed, they said. About 36 houses were completely destroyed and 503 houses partially during the past 24 hrs. The loss due to destruction of houses was estimated at Rs 2.45 crore.

They said about Rs 1.81 crore of agricultural crop loss was estimated across the state.

About 17 camps have been opened in the affected districts and the largest number of camps were in Alapuzha, numbering ten and housing about 2000 people, they said and added more relief camps would be opened as more people were being displaced because of floods and sea erosion.

As many as 1,078 people were in relief camps in Kollam, 221 in Thiruvananthapuram, 100 in Ernakulam and 46 people in Thrissur.

A report from Idukki said a woman was injured in landslides at Moolamattam in the district following heavy rains. One house was destroyed and eight damaged in the landlsides. Normal life was thrown out of gear in various parts of the district as transport, electricity and telecommunication were disrupted.

A Kottayam report said several houses were destroyed partially and traffic was affected in Pala, Erattupetta areas. The District Collector had appealed to the people living in low-lying areas and on the banks of Rivers to be vigilant and to move to safer places.

Reports from other parts of the state also said of disruption of power supply and traffic blockades. In Thiruvananthapuram, rail traffic was affected for a couple of hours after the engine of the Maveli Express hit an uprooted tree.

Water levels were steadily rising in reservoirs of hydro electric projects in the state as catchment areas continued to receive heavy rainfall.

Meanwhile the Local Met office said isolated heavy rains would lash Kerala in the next 48 Hrs. They also warned of strong onshore winds in the westerly direction with 52 to 55 kmph speed likely along Kerala coast and Lakshadweep.

It said the highest rainfall of 14 cm was received at Munnar and Idukki followed by Kayamkulam 13 cm.

UNI