Our Correspondent
A relief of Rs.5 lakh will be given to the families of those who died in the landslide at Rajamala in Idukki, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.
The landslide occurred at Rajamala in the early hours of August 7. Power and communications were disrupted due to heavy rain. So it was too late when the tragedy came out. A bridge collapsed, making it difficult for rescue workers to reach the disaster spot.
The rescue operation was started by the police, fire brigade and locals under the leadership of the sub-collector. Rescue operations using earth movers were extremely difficult. It is reported that the National Disaster Response Force will reach the spot after the Periya forest bridge.
A unit of the National Disaster Response Force was deployed in Idukki in view of the disaster. However, the NDRF carried out rescue operations in Vagamon after a car overturned on August 6. They were posted to Rajamala on August 7. In addition, a 50-member trained fire brigade was deployed here.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs.2 lakh financial assistance to the families of those killed in the tragedy. He said Rs.50,000 will be given as financial aid to those injured in the incident from the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.
Fifteen relief camps have been opened in four taluks of Idukki district. 513 people from 147 families have been relocated.
Nine people from two families, including an adult woman, two men, four women and two children, have been shifted from Munnar village to the camp at Munnar Merchant Association Hall.
Twenty-seven people from 12 families, including four adult women, one adult man, six men, nine women and seven children, have been transferred to the camp at the Higher Secondary School. In Thodupuzha, two women from a family have been relocated to a camp at a higher secondary school.
In Peermedu taluk 24 people have been relocated from Kumily Village to the camp at Kumily Tribal School.
Thirty people from seven families have been relocated from Manjumala Village to the camp at Chandravanam Estate Hall. A total of 42 people from 15 families have been relocated from Manjumala Village to the camp at St. Joseph’s School.
Thirty-one people have been relocated from Manjumala Village to the camp at Mohana Auditorium. Eighty-five people from 21 families have been relocated from Vagamon Village to the camp at St. Sebastian’s School. Twenty-one people have been relocated to the camp at St. Joseph’s School from Periyar Village.
