Rescue operations in the flood-ravaged Ernakulam district is technically over, with more than 50,000 rescued in the last four days.
“Only those stranded at Kuthiyathodu in North Paravur and Poovathussery in Parakkadavu block in Angamaly remain to be evacuated. We are waiting for the roads to those areas to become accessible,” District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla told The Hindu on Monday.
The death toll in the district has been pegged at 14 for now. The exact figure will be known probably in a week after data of missing persons’ is processed.
Mr. Safirulla said six deaths had been confirmed at Kuthiyathodu in Paravur taluk where a portion of a wall collapsed at St. Xavier’s Church. “Local residents suspect two more deaths, though we are yet to confirm it,” he added.
The Collector said the focus would now be on post-relief operations since there was no threat to lives. “We have formed a specialised team for post-rescue operations. The defence forces will be retained till the State government decides on their further deployment to other places,” he added.
The district administration said 95,398 families were now in 760 camps, and they included 1.41 lakh men, 1.44 lakh women, and 75,010 children. Special arrangements have been made to ensure better coordination at relief camps. Four officials have been deployed in each camp, and services will be available round-the-clock. The officials will ensure supply of water, power, food at the camps.
Principals and headmasters of schools where relief camps are being run will coordinate relief efforts. An action plan has been chalked out for sanitisation in flood-affected homes. The control room at the Government Rest House at Pathadipalam near Kalamassery has been wound up, as the focus has shifted to the collectorate.