Following massive waves lashing the coastal areas at Valiyathura and Anchuthengu during the last few days, the Revenue Department had opened relief camps for the people in the nearby schools. The camp at Anchuthengu now accommodates around 150 people. As many as 250 people were shifted to Valiyathura relief camp on Sunday.
A group of doctors, along with the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), visited the camp at Valiyathura and provided essential medical assistance for the inmates. At the camp in Anchuthengu, doctors from Chirayinkeezhu Taluk Hospital provided medical care.
According to Thiruvananthapuram RDO Mohammed Mustafa, the round-the-clock camps have all the necessary facilities. “All the inmates are provided basic amenities. We have conducted regular medical check-ups and did not find anyone suffering from epidemics,” the RDO said. He also said that the inmates of the Anchuthengu camp will be allowed to go back to their houses as the condition there had improved much. The concrete dwellings at Anchuthengu are quite strong and the only problem that the people there face is the water-logging in their houses.
It is the residents of Valiyathura who are affected the most as majority of them live in huts. According to the local people, the huts at Valiathura will be washed away anytime as the sea is becoming rougher day by day. Most of the thatched dwellings are already partially damaged, having faced the vagaries of the sea since last week.
The Revenue Department has also decided to give compensation to the people based on the loss suffered by each family. The amount will vary and would be based on a survey conducted by the authorities.
Meanwhile, District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr Renuka said that she, along with other doctors, had already visited the camps. “As of now, no cases of fever have been diagnosed. There are no health issues for the people living there,” the DMO said.
However, the inmates of the relief camp in Valiyathura are hoping for an permanent alternative that could ensure their safety on a long-term basis.
