Kochi, Aug 17(UNI) The Devastating rain in kerala which started on August 8 has so far claimed more than 164 lives and rendered 2,857 people homeless even as the state has virtually turned into an ocean as most of the low lying areas submerged under the gushing water.
The devastating rain that severely hit the high range districts of Idukki, Wayanad and Malappuram districts, where the maximum number of landslides and causalities reported, virtually turned out to be a ploughing land, as there was complete mud in the agricultural lands due to landslides.
As per the official data released by the Revenue Department the total loss was calculated to Rs 68.27 crore, including the loss of house (Rs 13.09 crore) and crops (Rs 55.18 crore).
Till the evening of August 16, as many as 331 houses fully and 2526 houses partially damaged, while a total of 3393.3200 hectares of crops were also reportedly damaged in many parts of the state, sources said.
As part of shifting people from the water logged areas in the state, the Revenue Department had already evacuated as many as 2.23 lakh members from 52,856 families in 1568 camps, set in various parts of the state, Revenue Department sources added.
As many as 11 people were still missing and 41 people were injured in the natural fury that virtually stirred the normal life of people.
The government had declared holiday to all educational institutions in the state in view of the heavy rain that been experiencing unabated,
Kochi International Airport had already suspended its operations temporarily till August 26 as the operational areas of the airport and the surrounding areas were flooded.
Rail as well as road traffic were disrupted, particularly between Ernakulam and Thrissur, the sources said.
Army, including, Naval force, Air Force and Military deployed 212 motorised boats, and over 25 helicopters to rescue people, who were trapped in the waterlogged places.
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