Floods: City was ill-prepared

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The heavy downpour and the subsequent flash floods that submerged several parts of the city on Friday night have once again questioned the preparedness of the district administration.  Though officials of various departments put in their best, the rescue operations at several places were affected by the lack of sufficient equipment.  ‘’The flash floods were an eye-opener for us. Several new places were affected by the floods. We should be better prepared to face a similar situation in future,’’ said District Collector K N Satheesh. ‘’The Fire and Rescue Services Department should be given more efficient pumps, ropes, inflated boats and other necessary equipment,’’ he said. The Fire and Rescue brigade used inflated boats at several places to bring the people from flood-affected residential areas to safer locations.  ‘’The calamity assessment report to be submitted to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) will have suggestions to face such a situation in future,’’ he said.  The Collector also said that the drainage system in the city needs to be improved. ‘’We will also hold a meeting with Corporation officials to chart out ways to improve he drainage system,’’ he said. SDMA officials said that they will prepare a detailed plan to manage similar situations in future. ‘’A meeting of top officials of the Authority will be held in a couple of days to discuss the Collector’s report and to chart out a detailed plan to carry out more efficient rescue operations in future,’’ SDMA secretary K B Valsalakumari said. ‘’We will also identify the vulnerable areas,’’ she said.Rescue CampsA good majority of the 14 rescue camps opened by the district administration were closed on Sunday evening after people left for their homes. At several locations, people used the camp for having food only. In some areas, the officials set up marquees near the submerged areas for the residents who desired to be close to their houses.    The camp at Kumarapuram School will function on Monday also and there will be no classes for the school on Monday, said an official.AssessmentThe assessment to evaluate the losses in the rain and floods will begin in the district on Monday. Officials of the Village Offices and Agriculture Department will conduct the assessment.