KALPETTA: As many as 171 persons belonging to 56 families were evacuated from their houses and relocated to camps as heavy rains continued to lash Wayanad on Friday. The district officials said that six tribal colonies in Sulthan Bathery taluk, that had been marooned in the heavy rains, were shifted to relief camps.
The affected colonies are: Vellachal Colony, Cheeral (10 families), Kakkathodu Colony, Noolpuzha (20 families), Palakkolli Colony, Pulpally (11 families) Karyambadi Colony, Noolpuzha (eight families), Chirattayambam Colony, Poothadi (two families), and Idakkad Panappadi Colony, Kelamangalam (four families).
Around 120 flood victims had been accommodated at the camps set up at Government Lower Primary School, Kallumukku, and Vijaya LP School,Pulpally, said District Collector Kesavendra Kumar. All the camps are in Sulthan Bathery, from where widespread damage was reported. The district administration had made arrangements to supply food and medical assistance to the relief camps, said Additional District Magistrate N T Mathew.
As per official figures, the district experienced a total rainfall of 12.32 mm in the last 24 hours. The incessant rains that lashed the distrct have led to a rise in the water level of the Kabani river.
The worst-hit areas include Panamaram, Periya, Kurumani, Venniyodu and Kalloor. Paddy fields and rural roads in these low-lying places remain submerged in water, and vehicular traffic through most of these roads has also been disrupted due to flood. A high alert has been sounded in the flood-prone areas along the course of the Kabani river and its tributaries.
Widespread damage to standing crops like plantain and tapioca was also reported from various parts of the district.
Those who live in flood-risk areas have been asked to keep in constant touch with the local bodies and control rooms set up by the district administration at the district and taluk headquarters.