Rough sea: Boat capsizes, two houses damaged

Thiruvananthapuram: Uncertainty prevailed along the coastal line of the district on Wednesday after sea turned rough, threatening to affect the lives of people residing in the areas. Sea was at its worst at Valiyathura.
Two houses were partially damaged at Valiyathura and a boat carrying fishermen capsized near Poonthura. The fishermen managed to swim to safety. Portions of an old abandoned building under department of ports at Valiyathura too collapsed after hit by strong waves. Outside the city limits, a man identified as Yesudasan suffered injuries after a wall collapsed over him at Anchuthengu and was subsequently hospitalised.
As soon as these incidents were reported district administration authorities and the police launched efforts to alert the coastal population to stay vigil.
The police authorities said that they intensified vigil along the coastline, sending more patrol groups. Coastal Vigil Group members were summoned under each police station limits near the coastline and meetings were held regarding the steps to be taken in case the situation turned violent. The district administration meanwhile took steps to open the schools near the coasts where sea was most rough in case there arose a situation where families had to be shifted from their homes during the night.
Meanwhile, residents at Valiyathura and nearby coastal areas alleged that the delay in constructing a breakwater along the coast has resulted in their houses getting damages whenever sea turned rough during weather. They are planning to take out a protest march to irrigation department office Thursday in this regard.
According to Subin Alexander, a resident of Kuzhivilakom near Valiyathura, the sea advanced as far as the first row of houses on the shore on Wednesday.
“Looking at the current situation, the sea may advance even further into the land as time passes. We did not see any authorities or police personnel coming for aid until late around 7:30 pm,” he said adding that the sea had turned rough and started causing damages in the afternoon itself.
Manuel Basil of Don Bosco, Valiyathura, said that the irrigation department’s failure to sanction approval of breakwater was responsible for the damage sustained to the houses here.
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