Kerala Assembly Elections: Candidates' bid to calm down crowd
The local residents blocked Valiyathura junction with catamarans and electric poles that had fallen in the sea's fury.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The district administration, politicians and the city corporation which were dozing off after a tiresome election campaign, woke up late to the tidal attack that shattered the houses at Valiyathura and Poonthura on Monday night and Tuesday morning.
At the break of dawn on Tuesday, the local residents blocked Valiyathura junction with catamarans and electric poles that had fallen in the sea’s fury. The local church and the police under assistant commissioner Jawahar Janard were among the first to respond.
AIDMK candidate Biju Ramesh came to the spot with provisions. Later, LDF candidate Antony Raju and BJP state president Kummam Rajasekhran arrived to calm down an agitated crowd. While victims have been put up at the relief camp at Valiyathura LP School, the corporation has appealed to the district collector to arrange the opening up of a few central government buildings for rehabilitation.
“The corporation also demanded that handsome compensation should be distributed,” he told DC. The affected people lashed out against the authorities for not paying proper attention to their rehabilitation that has been pending for years in the erosion-prone area. “The authorities have left us in the lurch as we struggle here for basic facilities,” said Mercy who was rehabilitated at Govt Regional Fisheries Technical and Vocational HSS.