Heavy rain disrupts normal life in Ernakulam

Heavy rain and strong winds disrupt normal life in Ernakulam, causing damage to houses and tragic fatalities.

Normal life was disrupted in Ernakulam due to heavy rain and strong winds on Friday.

Incessant rain over the past six days has damaged 216 houses in the district. An 85-year-old resident of Thirumaradi village died after a tree fell on her on Thursday evening. Annakutty of Ammamkulam, Karavetta, who worked under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, was returning home after work when the tragedy occurred, according to an official release.

So far, three houses have been fully damaged — one each in Kanayannur, Kochi and Kothamangalam taluks — and 213 have been partially damaged — 47 in Aluva, 19 in Kanayannur, 30 in Kochi, 18 in Kothamangalam, 35 in Kunnathunadu, 25 in Muvattupuzha and 39 in Paravur taluks.

An official advisory issued around 3 p.m. on Friday called for increased vigilance along the coast from Munambam to Maruvakkad in Ernakulam on Sunday. People in vulnerable areas were urged to move to safer locations.

The water level in the Muvattupuzha river has gone up following heavy rain. The level recorded at 8 a.m. on Friday was 11.05 metres, above the flood-warning level of 10.92 metres. People living along the banks of the river have been advised to remain cautious due to the rising water level.

People in the coastal panchayats of Chellanam and Kannamaly continued to be battered by furious waves as many houses were flooded with gushing seawater on Friday. Several houses suffered damage following the sea incursion. Residents in the affected areas blamed the district authorities for not initiating the necessary control measures to tackle the situation.

Representatives of Chellanam-Kochi Jankeeya Vedi demanded the fulfilment of a promise to build a tetrapod wall along the 10-km stretch between Chellanam fishing harbour in the south and the border of the Kochi Corporation near Fort Kochi in the north.