Rains continue to disrupt normal life in Ernakulam amidst loss of property. Photo By H. Vibhu/The Hindu
Heavy rains continued to batter Kochi city and the larger Ernakulam district for the eighth day running bringing little respite to the residents.
Water level in major canals in the city has exceeded the flood level raising the spectre of flood unless the rain relents somewhat. Authorities hope of an end to successive extremely wet days was dashed when an initial yellow alert of moderate rainfall for Saturday (May 31, 2025) was scaled up to orange predicting heavy rainfall in the morning. The phenomenon of high tide is not helping things either.
The relatively narrow Vivekananda Canal in the heart of the city and its immediate neighbourhood poses the biggest concern. The major irrigation department has given an estimate to the district administration for cleaning up the canal though the actual cleaning work may still require the rain to subside.
Water from the Vivekananda Canal is now being sucked and jetted out to the Mullasserry Canal, the restoration works of which remain about 80% complete. While the restoration works has improved the flow in the Mullasserry Canal, the influx of water from Vivekananda Canal and from even unidentified drainage networks threatens to turn things worse.
Areas near the Ernakulam South railway station, KSRTC bus stand, Vivekananda Road and nearby areas have been experiencing water logging. The desilting works of the Thevara Perandoor Canal have also been badly affected by the unrelenting rain as the safety of cleaning workers has been given priority.
In the coastal belt, Chellanam panchayat continues to bear the brunt of the double blow – heavy rain and two spells of high tide daily. “Out of the nearly 3000 households between Puthenthodu and Beach Road in the panchayat, almost half remains threatened by potential intrusion of water while water has already intruded 300 households,” said V.T. Sebastian, general convenor of the Chellanam-Kochi Janakeeya Vedhi.
Things are no different in West Kochi areas falling within the Kochi Corporation limits as water logging has been reported in all low-lying areas like Thoppumpadi and Edakochi.
“The failure to de-silt and deepen major canals, especially the Thevara Perandoor Canal, Karanakkodam Canal and Edappally Canal within the city has affected areas in its immediate neighbourhood. Things are likely to turn worse during the next three months,” said M.G. Aristitle, Congress councillor and UDF parliamentary party secretary in Kochi Corporation.
Published – May 31, 2025 09:30 am IST
