Kerala: Rain havoc continues unabated

KOZHIKODE: As torrential rains continued to wreak havoc for the third day in the region,  Wayanad is the most affected with three deaths and all major roads connecting the hill district with the plains under landslide threat.   Two children drowned in a pond at Kudukky, Cheeral near Sulthan Bathery on Sunday morning. The  victims were identified as Sana Fathima, 5, daughter of Thottathil Shihabudheen and Muhammed Shamil, 10, son of Firoz. The mishap occurred when the children were playing in the farm, police said. Both the children are relatives.   

At Pulppalli in Wayanad, Shyla, 36, wife of Surendran, was electrocuted. The mishap occurred when she tried to save Surendran who was subjected to electric shock first. The family was staying in a temporary shed as the construction of a new home was going on. The wiring at some point was damaged which resulted in the mishap. Shyla is survived by children Sandra and Sooraj.   The newly built approach road of the Valad-Puthussery Bridge was washed off in the torrential rains and flash floods. About 60 meters of the road was reconstructed spending about Rs 8 crore. The approach road was scheduled to be opened this week when the flash floods destroyed it.  

Although three rehabilitation camps were opened in Kozhikode for the coastal regions, yet no families have been shifted to the centres. In the district, 83 houses were damaged partially and 31 houses completely.  It is to be recalled that three persons, including a four-year-old child, were killed in torrential rains on Saturday. District collector U.V. Jose said that all control rooms have been put on high alert and will be operating round the clock. The high-ranges of the district, including Koodaranji, Pulloorampara, Kodanchery and Anakkampoyil are landslide prone areas. The traffic through Wayanad Ghat road connecting Wayanad and Kozhikode also is under landslide threat.