Kerala Monsoon toll touches 27

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Most parts of the state cringed under heavy rains for the 11th day in succession even as the death toll in monsoon-related incidents rose to 27 with two more deaths being reported in the last 24 hours.

Revenue officials said that one of the deaths occurred in Pathanamthitta while the other death was reported from Malappuram. Kottayam received heavy rains but much of the damage occurred in Alapuzha.

Crops in over 2,905 hectares across the state have been damaged in the rains that have been pounding the state without respite. “The losses are estimated to be about Rs 1,320.95 lakh,” said a revenue official. “Much of the crop loss has occurred in Alapuzha.”

Overall, 84 houses have been destroyed across the state in the rains and 1,446 houses were damaged. The losses amount to Rs 150 lakh in all.

Further, the damage to roads and other public property in the torrential rains is estimated to be around Rs 412 lakh.

“The accumulated losses in the state since the monsoon began amounts to Rs 1,882 lakh in all,” said the official.

The state government had pegged the loss at around Rs 550 lakh under the parameters devised by the Central government.

In all, 50 relief camps are functioning in Alapuzha and Kottayam in which around 9,000 persons affected by the floods have sought shelter.

The Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, has already asked officials to give these people free rations. Meanwhile, the former finance minister, Mr Thomas Isaac, on Tuesday asked the United Democratic Front government to allot untied fund of Rs 1 to Rs 2 crore to district collectors to tackle rain damage.