Central team deputed by Union government to assess the damage caused by Ockhi

Alappuzha: The Central team deputed by the Union government to assess the damage caused by cyclone Ockhi visited coastal areas in the district on Thursday. District Collector T.V. Anupama held talks with the team and submitted a report detailing damages. According to officials, the loss is pegged at Rs 25.97 crore. The Collector also explained the relief package prepared by the government and various measures taken in the aftermath.

Earlier, the team led by R. Thankamani, Director, Coastal Erosion Directorate under the Central Water Commission and Sumit Priyadarshi, Assistant Advisor, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation interacted with fishermen and the families of victims. The team began from Chethi beach in Cherthala taluk. Locals demanded the construction of groynes and completion of a bridge at Andhakaranazhy. Officials promised to include the demands in their report to be submitted to the government. The team later visited Kattoor and interacted with residents including fisherwomen.

They also visited Karoor, Payalkulangara, Arattupuzha, Kallikkadu and Nallanickal in Ambalappuzha and Karthikapally taluks and collected details about the damage caused to houses, roads and fishing vessels. They also assessed the havoc caused by coastal erosion. Later officials said that the team would hold talks with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram and include the demands raised by the people in the final report.

District panchayat president G. Venugopal, Mararikulam block panchayat president Sheena Sanalkumar, Mararikulam south panchayat president Indira Thilakan, peoples representatives also interacted with the team at various places. Sub Collector Krishna Teja, ADM I. Abdul Salam and deputy collector P.S. Swarnamma accompanied the team.