Thiruvananthapuram: Around 70,000 people have volunteered in a massive clean-up drive in Kuttanad, known as the Kerala's rice bowl, to remove the slit and debris dumped by flood, as rehabilitation work continued in other affected areas of the state.
The Kuttanad region, which is below the sea level, has several areas still inundated, a week after the torrential rains that triggered the devastating deluge across the state stopped and water receded in most other parts.
State Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and PWD Minister G Sudhakaran launched the drive in which nearly 70,000 volunteers will clean around one lakh buildings in Kainakary, Nedumudi and other areas of Kuttanad in Alapuzha district.
At least 1,000 engineers, IT volunteers and snake catchers along with cleaning supplies have also joined the drive.
The volunteers reached Kuttanad in boats and buses and have fanned out across 16 panchayats to clear around one lakh buildings, including houses, public places and places of worship, of the slush and debris, Sudhakaran told reporters. Asserting that there was an overwhelming response from the people, with many even from far off districts joining in the drive, he said the initial plan was to complete the clean-up by August 30.
However, since a large number of houses were still waterlogged, it would take more time, the minister said.
Isaac said they were overwhelmed by the response as people from as far as northern Kannur district had come to help people clean their homes.
Meanwhile, cleaning operations across the flood-hit areas are progressing fast and in many places people have started returning home.
Fifty-two-year-old Rema said she along with her family returned home last night, 11 days after they fled as their house at Aluva in Kochi submerged in flood water.