Kerala landslides: Punchirimattom has misplaced its smile | Kochi Information

Kallingal Unnikrishnan (Left), Abdul Latheef Kurikkal(Proper)

MEPPADI (WAYANAD) : Punchirimattom, a picturesque hamlet within the valley beneath the towering Mundakkai hills was the primary to be hit by the large landslide, struggling the worst impression.
Because the title suggests, ‘punchiri’ (smile) in its title refers back to the hanging scenic great thing about the realm because of the tall hills blanketed with forests and cardamom plantations.However the smile has waned as survivors even dread on the considered returning.
Punchirimattom, which had practically 60 homes, was flattened in a matter of seconds because the landslide obliterated every little thing in its path. Mundakkai, which is 2km downstream, at the very least has rubbles and wreckage of some buildings.
Kallingal Unnikrishnan is a fortunate survivor, whose home was among the many first at Punchirimattom to be flattened, now dreads even to step foot on his fatherland. Unnikrishnan, a each day wage earner, misplaced his spouse who had gone to her sister’s home at Chooralmala.
“I didn’t wish to come right here however did so right this moment after my buddies insisted. This was the land which all of us beloved a lot and I had toiled for years to construct our dream home. However after the trauma that left a lot devastation, it’s haunting to be again right here. I used to be inside the home when the landslide struck at round 1.30am. It was like a helicopter flying shut. Half of my home crumbled down and I ran as much as the second flooring and stood there witnessing the horror of particles circulate ravaging every little thing round, together with my neighbour’s home,” stated Unnikrishnan. Once I known as my spouse’s relative, she stated that my spouse Shyja, her sister, sisterin-law and brother-in-law had been lacking, he added.
Abdul Latheef Kurikkal, who was working within the Gulf, reached Puthirimattom on listening to of the landslide having swept away his home. However his relations managed to outlive. “Our home stood simply 50m away from the river and, it’s only a flat floor. Similar is the case with my daughter’s home and of my brothers. Fortunately my relations managed to avoid wasting their lives as that they had moved to homes of family members on Monday,” he stated.
Kurikkal stated they had been happy with their land, which was an idyllic haven with a number of vacationer spots like Seethamma Kund and a small waterbody the place vacationers frequented. Nonetheless, these areas have now grow to be clean areas.
Over 100 connections at Punchirimattom have been misplaced and KSEB connections can’t be restored because the topography of the complete space has been remodeled, stated overseer Abdul Saleem Manjileri.