HEAVY RAIN IN KERALA

HEAVY RAIN IN KERALA

(Heavy rain continues to choke Kozhikode roads)

The city and the suburbs witnessed traffic blocks all through Saturday afternoon and late into the evening as heavy rain clogged up most of the drains. Many major roads were filled with knee-deep water and motorists and pedestrians had a tough time negotiating the potholes.Mavoor Road, along which many of the major commercial establishments are situated, was also filled with water.A few shops downed their shutters after the drain water gushed in. The entry point to the bus stand was flooded. The sludge that gathered in front of the bus shelter created difficulties for commuters.According to information from the traffic control room, the major roads that witnessed blocks include Rajaji Road and Arayadathupalam Junction. The highway at Nallalam was blocked for an hour after a tree fell on the road. Blocks were also witnessed near the Ramanattukara highway.

Pedestrians were wary of walking on the footpaths as the high water level made it impossible to detect if the slabs were missing. During the pre-monsoon showers in May, a woman had died after falling in an open drain on Oyitty Road.Though the incident had kicked up a storm and led to a blame game between the Corporation and the Public Works Department (PWD), many of the drains in the city are yet to be covered.The pre-monsoon cleaning drive of the City Corporation also did not have the desired effect as the silt gathered in the drains caused the water to overflow.

Prof. John Kurakar