By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Boats were seen plying on Kerala's flooded roads as torrential rains claimed 22 lives and the government Wednesday looked to the Centre for help.
The maximum number of deaths has been reported from Kozhikode, Kannur, Malappuram, Wayanad and Pathanamthitta districts. Trissur, Idukki and Ernakulam districts have also been affected.
On account of the heavy rains lashing the state since Monday, the government declared a holiday Wednesday for educational institutions in nine of the 14 districts.
"In my district, country boats have been plying on the road for the past two days because almost all low lying areas have been flooded with the river Pamba in spate," Pathanamthitta legislator K. Sivadasan Nair told IANS.
"My home was swept away by the sea and we have been staying on the side of the main road in a make shift tent for the past two days," said Mary, a fisherwomen.
Officials said the rains have affected about 25,000 people who have been put up in nearly 400 relief camps.
The state assembly Wednesday passed a resolution demanding Rs.2.5 billion assistance from the Centre as rekief.
An adjournment motion moved by the opposition was taken up in the assembly to discuss the disaster and the destruction caused by the downpour.
State Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran told the house that since June 1, as many as 143 people had died.
"In the heavy rains since Monday, rough estimates indicate that the total destruction in the state is around Rs.400 crores (Rs.4 billion). Free ration would be given to all needy," Divakaran said.
Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan announced that all those who had lost their homes in the rains would be given land or new homes.
State Revenue and Forest Minister Binoy Viswom visited Kozhikode to inspect the damage incurred.
Vehicular traffic on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border in Palakkad and Thekkady has been disrupted due to landslides.
The rains have taken a huge toll on paddy cultivation in Alappuzha district as many paddy fields were under water. Large-scale destruction of crops has been reported from other districts too.
The government has pressed mobile relief teams into service. The central Rapid Action Force (RAF) is also assisting in relief operations in Kozhikode while naval personnel are helping the administration in Wayanad.