Cyclone Tauktae | Rain leaves a trail of destruction across Central Travancore districts

Heavy rains accompanied by stormy winds that has lashed the State since May 13 has left a trail of destruction across the Central Travancore districts of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta.

According to officers, the incessant rains introduced down a number of bushes, snapping energy cables and damaging crops in a number of acres of land. However, no causalities have been reported to this point.

144 homes broken in Pathanamthitta

A preliminary estimate by the Pathanamthitta district Administration advised that as many as 144 homes collapsed both partially or absolutely through the summer season rains this 12 months. Of these, a minimum of 30 homes have been damages over the past couple of days.

Meanwhile, crops in over 248 hectares of land and price over ₹5.2 crore too have been washed out fully. The persevering with gush of flood waters from the excessive ranges is threatening to clean out standing crops in paddy fields across the Upper Kuttanad area.

The endless rain has added to the woes of paddy farmers, already hit arduous by an inordinate delay in paddy procurement.

Relief camps opened in Kottayam

Squally winds that accompanied the rain have spewed widespread troubles across the backwater area of Kottayam, prompting the authorities to open aid camps in numerous places.

Low-lying areas of Kottayam municipality and adjoining villages, together with Kumarakom, Aymanaam and Arppokkara, have been inundated by the run-off water from the excessive ranges. Several bushes have been uprooted across the area, resulting in disruptions in street visitors and energy provide.

The villages on the excessive ranges, in the meantime, have been on their toes in view of the extreme showers. The area, nonetheless, is but to witness any main situations of landslide this time.

As per estimates by the Hydrology Sub-Division in Kottayam, the district acquired a complete rainfall of 697.8 mm over the previous 24 hours. The water stage in all main rivers, together with the Meenachil, Pampa and Manimalayar, have reported a sharp rise, though properly inside the hazard mark.

Damage sustained by the rain and winds are but to be estimated, officers stated.

Taking observe of the state of affairs, the Kottayam District Administration has opened management rooms at completely different places, which can operate around the clock.

In view of the continued COVID-19 pandemic, incident commanders have been tasked to make sure uninterrupted energy provide on the therapy centres within the area.

Officials stated the aid camps would operate in strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols, together with services for finishing up antigen testing of inmates having suspected signs of the an infection.