Ponnani: Sea erosion is grave on the Indian coast and the problem is acute especially on the shores of Kerala. Two houses, located at Azheekal beach here, will be swallowed by the sea any time. The houses are now surrounded by sand deposited by an invading sea.
The sea has reached the doorsteps after encroaching on a road and a seawall that existed in the area near the light house some time ago. In a frantic move, the residents have tried to block the sea sand from entering the houses by fixing wooden planks at the doors. Though local people have been demanding a seawall, the authorities have turned a deaf ear to their pleas.
Even the authorities are aware that the lives and properties of the 22 inmates of the houses belonging to Koyalikkanakathu Subair and Kammalikkanakathu Siddique are in peril. However, the officials are doing nothing about it. The residents will have nowhere to go if the houses collapse.
The sea turns rough regularly in the area. With the sea still rough, the officials as well as the residents know that the houses will remain in their present state only for a few more days. Fearing the approaching waves, both families have shifted to the houses of a few relatives. They later returned noticing that the sea had turned calm. But, they again moved to other places when the sea advanced on Monday.