Rain floods Kochi, hits traffic

Kochi: Despite the tall claims of the civic authorities on pre-monsoon cleaning of canals and drains, the city got flooded in the first spell of monsoon on Wednesday.

Roads, buildings, KSRTC bus station, railway station and other regular problem areas  highly vulnerable for flooding  were inundated. Traffic blocks and bad roads added to the commuters’ woes. Major junctions like Vyttila, Palarivattom and Edappally witnessed heavy traffic block from early morning.  

As per Met department data, Ernakulam South received a rainfall of 51 mm while Kochi Naval Base received 59 mm. Piravom received the highest amount of rain with 89.6 mm. Cochin international airport received 43.1 mm.

Major roads in the city, including SRV Road, Judges Avenue, Convent Junction, Press Club Road, Paramara Road  and St. Vincent Road,  which are not prone to water-logging usually, were also inundated. Water entered  most of the shops along the Press Club Road. Many houses in Kaloor, Ernakulam North, Elamakkara, Perandoor and Thevara were inundated.

Meanwhile, Corporation Health Committee Chairperson  V.K. Minimol told DC that the unusual water-logging in parts of the city was  due to blocking of TP canal for de-silting and cleaning.

“Water flow in TP canal is blocked in three areas where de-silting is on, a major reason for water-logging. Cleaning is being carried out at Pottakuzhy, Panampilly Nagar and Thevara stretches. Once it is completed, stormwater drainage will be more effective,” she said.

The KSRTC bus station premises were flooded as rainwater is not flowing to the drain constructed by GCDA above the road level. “The assistant engineer has been instructed to take remedial steps,” Minimol said. The special squad formed by the civic body’s health wing is in action to mitigate the damage.

Office-goers and school children had a tough time reaching their destinations. The city traffic was choked  and it took several hours for vehicles to cross major junctions.