Even as the authorities declared Orange alert (implying that weather conditions have the capacity to impact significantly on the people in the affected areas), the Meenachil river and its tributaries breached the banks on the impact of the increasing inflow of floodwater into the western low lying areas of the district.
Authorities have confirmed two deaths on account of the monsoon in the district in the past 24 hours.
Prasad (43) of Kunnuparambil House, Amayannur, had moved to the relief camp at Governmen Lower Primary School, Ayarkunnam, along with with his wife and two children. He had gone missing on Wednesday evening. Prasad’s body was found in an inundated paddy land near the camp on Thursday.
Varghese (57) of Koickel House, Ialngulam, had fallen into the pond near his house where he had gone to take a bath. The accident occurred on Wednesday evening. He was an ex-serviceman.
With three more camps being opened on Thursday, the number of relief camps have gone up to 18, housing a total of 409 persons.
Meanwhile, District Collector B.S. Thirumeni said arrangements had been made to face any emergency situation in the district, which had been put under the alert status of Orange.
In Alappuzha, Idukki
Adjoining, Alappuzha and Idukki districts have also been placed under the alert level of Orange. According to Mr. Thirumeni, the district was prepared to face emergencies in landslide prone and flood-prone areas .
The polders in the western areas are under threat of bund breaches.
According to Padasekhara Committee authorities, the bund of the Mooleppadaom polder has breached, inundating the paddy field which had been prepared for sowing.
“Since the inflow of floodwater is much more than we had expected, we will have to wait until the water level in the canals recede,” said Girish Keezhathusseri, convener.
The polders, Vaarikkat, Edavattom, Kollakari, Mankazhi, Padinjaattukaad, Paarekkad, and Pallikkayal are also under threat of inundation.
Sowing to be delayed
If inflow continued, sowing would be delayed in these polders, farmers said, pointing to the weather prediction that the current spell of south west monsoon would continue till June 18.
