A week after the monsoon arrived in Kerala, Kochi saw one of its worst downpours on Monday, partially submerging railways stations, bus stands and roads.
Ernakulam’s Kerala Road Transport corporation’s bus station was one of the most affected areas in the city. Despite the promises made by the city corporation in the past years, this time too the bus stand was inundated. Even waiting and shopping areas inside the bus waiting building were filled with water.
Since the building was constructed below the road level, water rushed into the building. Though the corporation had promised to solve the problem, Monday’s experience proved that the bus station and the building will be in the same state this monsoon too.
“Waiting rooms and chairs are in water. We are standing here in the water for last 2 hours, buses are also late,” says Varghese a frustrated commuter from KRTC stand.
Water entered most of the shops near south, north, Kaloor, Perandoor and Elamakkara. Police vans were deployed to transport people outside the Ernakulam South Railway station due to high water level. Cars and auto rickshaws were not able to pass through the road outside the railway station.
Many of the pocket roads in Thammanam, South, Kaloor and North area were also inundated.
Cochin Corporation Health Committee Chairperson V K Minimol told The News Minute that the corporation have taken necessary measures to beat the flood in vulnerable areas.
“We have made arrangements to overcome the difficulties of flood when the monsoon strengthens. Once the cleaning of drainages are done, flood can be controlled in the city. Immediate steps will be taken in other areas too,” she said.
As per the Meteorological department, Ernakulam south received around 42 mm rainfall, while Cochin International Airport received 37.4 mm. The highest was in Piravom 94.2 mm.
