Ban on entry to beach

Entry to the Shanghumughom beach for tourists and the public has been prohibited.

District Collector K. Vasuki, who is also the chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority, issued the orders on Tuesday in the wake of the rough sea taking away most of the beach. The order will remain in force until further notice.

The Collector directed the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Shanghumughom, to put in place strict surveillance along the beach to ensure compliance with the order, and the District Police Chief to ensure the safety of the people.

The DTPC Secretary has been directed to put up warning boards about entry being prohibited.

Meanwhile, waves continued to pound Valiathura and Shanghumughom on Tuesday. At Valiathura, some more portions of the house of Punitha Mary collapsed on Sunday. Nearby, men were at work since morning trying to shore up the front of their houses with sacks of sand. Mary, whose house is shared by four families, rued that the government was not coming to their aid, leaving them to spend money from their own pockets.

The people were unhappy about the delay in handing over the keys to the flats built for them at Muttathara. “Officials had said we would be able to move in at May end, but now we are hearing that it will be at least June 20 before we can shift.”

Bridgitte said the families had staged a protest at Valiathura junction demanding protection for their houses. “Every hour, some more of the land is gobbled away,” she said, pointing to coconut palms which had fallen under the onslaught of the waves in the afternoon.

Tahsildar Suresh Kumar said seven houses in the third row had sustained damage in the Valiathura area.

A few families in the second row had been shifted to the Kochuthope church parish hall.

Kovalam MLA M. Vincent has demanded that the Revenue Minister deploy a specia team to review the damage caused by the rough sea and provide emergency help to the people.