Kochi: For several days when the devastating flood hit the state, the Sannidhanam and Pamba base camp had got cut off from the mainland, even making distribution of food materials to the other side impossible.
However, the food supply to Sabarimala was restored, thanks to a group of youngsters from Attathodu, mainly comprising of tribal natives, who adventurously swam across river Pampa, which is still in spate, carrying bags of essential food materials on their back every day.
“There are around 20 people at Sannidhanam including Melshanti A.V. Unnikrishnan Namboothiri and Tantri Kandararu Maheswararu Mohanararu. With the bridges at Triveni getting washed away in flash floods and the river Pamba still in spate, the distribution of food materials posed a great challenge,” said Ragesh K.G., Range Forest Officer.
The group from Attapadi agreed to take up the job and they daily adventurously swim across the river, carrying bags of essential food materials on their back.
“For this, we’ve identified a section at Valiyanavattom where the currents are not so strong,” the officer said.
Meanwhile, the Forest Department has lashed out at the Public Works Department for not restoring the main roads that got damaged in flood and land-slides.
“Even the main roads like the NH 183 (PathanamthittaKumily) are yet to be fully restored. We’re forced to stop the trips to tourist places like Gavi and Kakki Dam. Now only jeep services are possible as land-slides have damaged roads at 17 sections.
“The people at these places got trapped. If they want to come to the Seethathodu panchayat they have to go the round-about route via Vandiperiyar, Mund-akayam and Pathanamthitta,” said a senior Forest official.
