Ordeal is far from over for worst affected ward

Kochi: Sreemoolanagaram panchayat ward number one, which is the ChowaraKondotty area, bore the brunt of floods with over 4000 people trapped in different places. All of them are yet to be out of the trauma that they underwent while the slush, the financial losses and other aspects remind them that the ordeal the floods have made is far from over.

“Flood water gushed in all on a sudden while we had no clue about it on the Independence Day. Nearly thousand people sought refuge in the first floor of the Juma Masjid in the area where they spent the next two-three days till water receded. It was from here that the Navy airlifted the pregnant woman who later delivered at the Naval Base hospital,” said Salahudeen, a farmer at the area. He said that another pregnant woman too was airlifted but it is still not known where she is. He also said that Naval helicopters ensured food supplies to the trapped people here while two small boats were used to ferry out as many people as possible to Chowara railway station which was not flooded.

Abdul Khader, a 61-year-old running a shop next to the masjid, did not have to think twice before offloading everything in his provision and plastic store for relief and rescue and for trapped people, before the flood waters consumed them. “It came in quick pace. The Chengal thodu near airport on our border overflowed and wall of the airport on our border crumbled, letting the water gush in,” said Naushad T.K., a farmer, who lost 30 cattle and 25 goats in the rush of flood waters. He estimates his loss to be worth Rs 20 lakh.

All of them remember the flood water reaching the top of the ground floor of the houses. “All those who could scramble for cover sought refuge in the houses which had first floor. Somehow we all managed to weather the crisis. But the trauma it has left is deeper. Many houses are seriously damaged,” said Salahudeen. Many natives are still in camps including the MES School. The Kerala Water Authority was expected to restore drinking water supply in the area on Tuesday from the Chowara pump house while KSEB is undertaking repairs of lines and setting right uprooted posts.