A scene from Koottickal | Photo: Shaheer C H | Mathrubhumi
Kanjirappally: “Where will we go with kids aged 7 and 3?” asks Renu who used to live near the Chappath region in Koottickal. The recent flood ruined their house beyond repair. They are unable to find rented houses and continue to live in camps without a clue about their future.
Like Renu, many families are searching for rented houses in the Koottickal region ever since the recent rain havoc destroyed their homes. They won’t be going back to the houses destroyed by the flood. It is also unsure whether they can reconstruct their houses in the same location. They do not have any clue as to where they should go when the camp is dispersed. There are not many homes available for rent here in this small town.
Some of them have moved to other places and rented new homes on loan. It is not easy staying in camps. Jebi, whose house collapsed into the Pullakayar, wishes to take a new house for rent but is not financially stable at the moment. He now lives with his brother. Even if he gets a new house for rent, there are many hurdles along his path. Home appliances, kitchen utensils and clothes must be bought again. Most of them left their houses with only the clothes that they were wearing.
929 families from 11 villages of Kanjirappally taluk are currently in camps. According to the government’s records, 191 houses were destroyed completely and 366 houses were ruined partially. 672 houses were flooded. Almost 600 families are in search of homes. Most of the damaged houses belong to Koottickal, Mundakayam, Edakkunnam, Koovappally and Erumeli North villages. Many have shifted to the houses of their relatives following let up in rains. The state of those who lost both homes and their land is quite pathetic. Even if the government promises homes, the question that remains is where will the houses be built?
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