Panamaram (Wayanad): Aftershocks of landslides and floods are still being felt in several areas of Wayanad, nearly a month after a natural calamity that killed scores.
Post-rains, cracks that developed on earth's surface have created panic among residents here. Ruptures are rampant in the Kurumbalakotta Hill and the land close to the river known as Valiyapuzha.
Though cracks had developed after the floods last year too, this time they have been severe in areas including the Kurumbalakotta Hill. Heavy rains had triggered 14 landslides of varying intensity on the hill. Besides, the hill itself was on the verge on splitting into two.
At the Panamaram panchayat in Kurumbalakotta, the fissures were kilometres long in several areas such as Compression Mukku, Karadikuzhi, and Kurumbalakotta of ward number 18. The cracks have become visible only after the rains receded. Besides, the cracks are widening and spreading to new areas with every passing day.
Fissures had appeared on the road from Compression Mukku to Vilakkumadam and Kurishumala and the road has split into two in many areas. On the hill, several houses, including those of tribals, have been damaged due to cracks and they have been left uninhabitable. A water tank on top of the hill and several houses including that of Panamaram panchayat vice-president T Mohanan are on the verge of collapse.
People have been shifted from uninhabitable houses under the initiative of panchayat member Girish.
Local residents around Kurumbalakotta say they have not seen such an exigency in the past six decades. They say people who had shifted to their relatives' houses after floods and landslides are yet to return.
An expert team of geology department and soil conservation department officials recently visited the area and conducted inspection.
The residents are also worried because they are yet to get any official information other than being asked to remain alert and not to panic. They are waiting for the report of the official team.
