Kerala: Sea erosion and wave of panic along coastal areas

Thiruvananthapuram: Strong waves and sea erosion struck several coastal areas in Kollam, Alappuzha and Thrissur districts on Monday, flooding and damaging houses, uprooting trees and creating panic among the people. Some coastal stretches in Alappuzha district witnessed the rare occurrence of the sea receding up to one km from the shoreline, exposing the marshy sea-bed.

Kollam: The surging waves struck Kakkathope, Kurisnmoodu, Gulfil Nagar, Thanni, Adhichamanthoppu, Lakshmipuram, Kochuthoppu and Kakkathoppu coastal belt near Eravipuram. The district administration evacuated about 24 families from Tanni area. C T Suresh Kumar, Fisheries Deputy Director, Kollam told Express that the families will be moved to the houses constructed under the tsunami rehabilitation project at Mayyanad once they are completed.

Alappuzha: More than 200 families along Alappuzha coast have been shifted to relief camps. Panic prevailed in the Purakkad coast after the sea withdrew from the shore for some distance. After the district administration failed to shift the people, the coastal people blocked NH 47 for over two hours at Purakadu and Karoor. Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash, Irrigation Minister P J Joseph and Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan visited the areas and promised immediate steps for constructing sea walls in the affected places.

Strong waves and sea erosion struck several coastal areas in Kollam, Alappuzha and Thrissur districts on Monday.

Sea erosion was reported at Omanappuzha, Vadackal, Punnappra, Challi Kadappuram, Ambalappuzha, Purackadu, Karoor, Thrikkunnapuzha and Thottapally. Sea water entered 160 houses and about 800 people were shifted to a relief camp at K K Kunju Pillai Memorial School. One more relief camp will be opened at SD Govt UP School at Neerkunnam.

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