Kochi: Eight relief camps closed

Kochi: As water level receded in areas along the banks of Periyar, eight of the total 75 camps were closed down. At present, a total of 11,512 inmates from 3613 families are camping in 67 camps remaining. Many of the inmates are reluctant to go back to their homes which are in bad shape with mud, clogged toilets, poisonous snakes and contaminated wells.

“We could take only very few belongings and are concerned of the condition of the inundated houses. Our properties and valuables were submerged as we had to rush out of homes with no time to shift the belongings,” said Bindu, inmate of a relief camp at Manjaly.

They fear further increase in the river water level as weathermen have predicted heavy rain in the next couple of days.

However, most of the inmates are satisfied with the life in the camps. “We were given good food, drinking water, medicines, mats, blankets and other basic facilities,” said Amir Hussain, an inmate of a relief camp at MES high school, Udyogamandal.

Several social organizations have mobilized essential goods which have been distributed in many camps.

NGOs, including Anpo-du Kochi, are collecting essential goods for flood victims. The district administration and Anp-odu Kochi volunteers are jointly collecting food items, water, antiseptic lotion, soap, paste, blea-ching powder, adult diapers, ORS, sanitary napkins, bedsheet, blankets, notebooks, pens and pencil boxes at Regional Sports Centre, Kadvanthra, from Saturday onwards. District collector Muhammad Y. Safirulla and a special officer deputed for coordinating rescue and relief operations are coordinating the collection of essential goods.

Central forces, including Army and Navy officials, are coordinating the relief measures.