Kochi: Inmates reluctant to leave camps

Kochi: Despite flood water receding from their houses, many residents of areas on banks of Periyar and Chalakudy rivers are staying back at relief camps with fear of rising waters as intermittent rains continued to lash the district on Monday.

The Meteorological Department has sounded an Orange alert in the district for Tuesday too as the district collector declared a holiday for all educational institutions, including professional colleges.

As many as 11, 759 inmates are still residing in 69 relief camps with a majority located in Paravur, Aluva, Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha taluks. Out of these, 30 camps providing shelter to 7655 people are in Paravur taluk alone.

“Panchayats like Puthenvelikkara and Kunnukara are facing flood threat from both Chalakudy and Periyar rivers. Though flood water receded from houses, people are not ready to return with rains continuing to pound the region. Further we’re experiencing increased water flow from Chalakudy river with places like ‘Thazhachira’ getting inundated again. A couple of camps have been closed but the five existing camps are full,” said former Puthenvelikkara panchayat member M.P. Shajan.

Meanwhile, people have started leaving camps in areas such as Eloor though flood water has accumulated in low-lying and marshy areas. “They can’t even walk through their house premises with the mud and other wastes getting accumulated. For the same reason, most of the inmates of the relief camp at Pathalam are staying back though the cleaning activities are fast progressing,” said P.M. Aboobacker, councilor, Eloor East.

A flood assessment meet was held at worst-hit Paravur block panchayat in which members pointed out the need for involvement of more volunteers in rescue and relief works in the areas.

The Health authorities began briefing of inmates returning from camps on mandatory measures to be taken for sanitation and cleaning of house premises and other materials.