Now that floodwaters are receding and Kerala is limping back to normal, people have started making their journey home from camps and kins' places to start life afresh. Those who braved the calamity have now set off on the uphill task of resettlement and the government has already issued guidelines to those returning home.
The houses that withstood the onslaught of the deluge for close to a week may hold 'surprises.' Apart from caution on snapped power lines and venomous reptiles, it is also important to ascertain the strength of buildings.
Architect Hareesh PR of Green Square Architects, Malappuram, says the biggest threat could be the foundation. The foundation made of concrete columns do not face much of a danger though these too are not completely out of risk. "Such foundations absorb water when they remain submerged and become overloaded when the water recedes. This makes the building precariously weak," he says.
"It is very important to wait until the floodwaters drain out of houses before sprucing it up for stay," building designer Antony Joseph of Dreams Designs, Kodungalloor, says. "What we should check first is if the structure has developed any vertical cracks towards the basement,” he adds.
The earth becomes extremely lose after 3 to 4 days of water-logging. If the soil in the place is already loose, there is a risk of foundation becoming weak. Conducting soil tests before building a house is essential, Joseph says.
"If you see big vertical cracks towards the bottom, it is better not to stay in the house. If it's small cracks, one should wait and see if the cracks are developing further. If not, the narrow cracks can be rectified with crack-fillers," Joseph says.
"The threat is much bigger for independent structures erected in a vast area," says Hareesh. "Buildings built with big beams, spacious halls and rooms are at risk. Cracks that are horizontal and are towards the upper part of the wall are not that dangerous," he says.
Also, it is also important to stave off unnecessary panic if the building is sound and safe.
