Rajakkad, Idukki: Landslides and flood had destroyed several property in Kerala, with several people finding their damaged houses uninhabitable and dangerous. A house that was built at a cost of Rs 40 lakh at Panniyarkutti, near here, has been wrecked to such an extent that the family is now homeless.
K K Jobit had spent his entire life's savings on the house, and had topped it with a bank loan to raise it. The family had moved into the house only on January 15, but their joy was short-lived as the natural calamity that struck Kerala last month has almost ruined their house and ostensibly their financial health.
Jobit's father Kurien and mother Mary were alone there as the rain intensified on August 14. On 15th morning, they found streams forming around the house. Water collected behind the structure at two-feet height.
Sensing a risk, Kurien and Mary shifted to a house by 11 pm. A little while later at night, they heard the thud of a landslide from around their house. Returning to their house, they found it buried under mud, stones and trees debris. A part of the house was completely destroyed. Silt water was seen gushing out from inside the house through a door.
Household items were all destroyed as silt filled the rooms. Among many things that were washed away are identity documents. It is estimated lakhs of rupees would be required to remove the mud that has encircled the house. The front portion of the house is intact, but it risks collape any time as it has cracked at many places and streams are still emerging outside. Most of the one-acre land adjacent to the house has been lost to the landslide. It's just not possible to build a new house on this property.
The family is now living at a friend's house as the relief camp where they had been staying was closed.
