Over 300 hundred people from Edavanakad in Ernakulam district of Kerala have been blocking the main road between Vypeen and Munambam since June 25 this year because they were angry that the houses they live in have been flooding due to sea-encroachment. As a result, by June 27th traffic had got stuck.
The blockade started around 8 a.m. as the peak hour approached. “Hundreds of vehicles are caught in there,” said Sunny M. from Njarakkal on his way on a bike.
V.K. Iqbal, vice president of the panchayat, said “they will continue with their strike until higher authorities come up with an answer to keep away floods that ravage two hundred homes.”
According to him, on June 26th District Collector met them but he did not indicate which immediate steps would be taken to prevent further flooding.
Kerala’s coasts for last three days are under threat of heavy rain and rising waves; moreover meteorologists forecast another three days in which cyclonic wind and rain formation will be affecting the same areas.
Chellanam panchayat is situated south of Edavanakad where also over 300 homes were flooded during high tide there on June 26.
Speaking about it Mr Sebastian added that due to high tides approaching sooner “the situation is going to get worse” warning residents who are setting about erecting protection wall for the coast against tides.
Iqbal noted that people has always asked that sea erosion should be prevented since Ockhi cyclonic storms hit Kerala Coast earlier this year but nothing has changed so far.
