ANAKKAMPOYIL: Siby Lukose, a native of Kakkattupara in Thiruvambady panchayat was lucky enough. He is alive today as he ran out of his house sensing danger during heavy rains on Tuesday. His house was fully destroyed in the landslide.
“Fortunately, there was nobody in the house. My father is an ailing person. He was shifted to a nearby house a day before. Though I was in the house when it was raining, I sensed danger and stepped out. My house collapsed in front of me,” Siby said with a heavy heart.
It was just two years back they had repaired the house spending a lot of money. “The rain has caused huge losses this time. We are farmers and we do not have a regular income. Rain has already caused heavy damage. Now, it has taken our house too. I do not know what to do,” he said.
The same is the case with Shali, who lives near Siby's house. Her house was also fully destroyed in the landslides.
“We had moved to the house of a neighbour two days back. We have a baby in our house. Where will we go now?” she said.
It is not just Siby and Shali who had incurred losses in the heavy rains. Losses in the agricultural sector are huge especially in Karimbu and Anakkampoyil region. The road between the two places has been washed away along a half kilometre stretch in the rain, leaving deep gorges.
Sajitha, who is a native of Anakkampoyil said this is the first time a landslide of this magnitude had happened in the place. “There have been small landslips. But none have caused heavy losses. The last time a similar incident had happened was on 1994 or 1995,” she said.
“The time was just two or three in the afternoon on Tuesday. It was raining heavily. Suddenly, we found the water level in the Iruvazhinji river rising. It had never entered our house. But this time, it was like the river was flowing through our house. The roads were submerged. And many household items were washed away. We were relocated to a camp nearby after personnel from Fire and Rescue and police reached the area,” she added. Though it is still raining in the region, the magnitude has gone down.
District Collector U V Jose who visited the affected areas said those affected will be relocated to the relief camps opened in various locations. “Both the revenue department and District Disaster Management team have swung into action. The losses incurred in the rains will be calculated soon and aid will be distributed,” he said. It is estimated that around 50 hectares of agricultural land have been destroyed in the incessant rains.
Meanwhile, many of the families from the region are still staying at relief camps.
According to authorities, 10 families in Pullurampara have been shifted to the relief camp opened at St. Joseph's school. About 13 families from the Muthappanpuzha region and 19 families from Kodenchery are also staying in various relief camps.