KOCHI: The district heaved a sigh of relief as the week-long rain subsided and flood water started receding on Saturday. As people started leaving the relief camps, the district administration expects the camps can be closed within a couple of days.
Only 26 relief camps continue to function in the district. As many as 2,489 people belonging to 674 families are staying in the 26 relief camps functioning in Paravur, Kanayannur and Aluva taluks. There are 14 camps in Paravur, where 1,790 people from 467 families are waiting for the floods to recede to return to their homes.
In Kanayannur, 438 people from 120 families are living in 10 relief camps. There are two camps in Aluva, where 261 people from 87 families are put up.
With the water receding, the Health Department has started sanitation work to avoid outbreak of diseases. Though no outbreak has been reported at the relief camps, the district-level officers from the Departments of Revenue and Health have been directed to visit the relief camps and assess the situation.
The Health Department is conducting sanitation drive at the camps of migrant labourers and crowded areas to avoid disease outbreaks. The District Medical Officer is overseeing the preventive measures to avoid spread of dengue, typhoid, rat fever and other monsoon-related diseases.
The Health Department will conduct a cleaning drive at the houses in the flood-affected areas on Sunday and Monday.