Kerala double tragedy: Landslides in 2019 and 2024 shatter Joseph’s life | Kochi Information

P Joseph, whose relations have been victims of the Puthumala landslide in 2019 and the latest Mundakkai landslide

Two devastating landslides have inflicted insufferable loss upon P Joseph’s household. The 2019 Puthumala catastrophe was adopted by the latest tragedy in Mundakkai, claiming a number of lives.
Joseph, who works at Harrisson’s Malayalam Plantation’s Puthumala division, survived the 2019 Puthumala catastrophe, although he was injured within the particles stream that additionally claimed the lifetime of his brother Lawrence’s spouse, Shaila.After the landslide destroyed the place the place he was residing, Joseph and his spouse, Shyla RA, relocated to Nellikappu.
Nonetheless, the specter of landslide tragedies continued to hang-out Joseph’s household. The latest Mundakkai landslide took the lifetime of Joseph’s fatherin-law, Madathil Ramaswamy, 68, and his brother-in-law, Vijaya Balan, 47, who was initially reported lacking. Whereas Vijaya Balan’s physique was later recovered, Ramaswamy’s stays haven’t been discovered. His home in Punchirimattam was fully swept away.
“We have been recovering from the devastation wrought by one landslide when tragedy struck once more within the type of one other. Within the Puthumala catastrophe, I obtained trapped within the particles stream however managed to one way or the other escape from it however we misplaced a member of our household. I used to be additionally hospitalized following accidents suffered within the landslide. Additionally, our neighbours Ajitha, Selvan, and Rani had died within the mishap. Now, when the scars of that landslide have been starting to heal, one more landslide has taken away extra of our family members,” mentioned Joseph.
Standing outdoors the momentary morgue at Meppadi panchayat neighborhood corridor to see if Ramaswamy’s physique has been recovered, Joseph mentioned that he had personally joined the search operations as volunteer of Military at Punchirimattom as his spouse Shyla was inconsolable.
“My father- in- regulation had come to our home on Monday morning and left for his home at Punchirimattam solely within the night. Although we requested him to remain again, he went saying that he has to take meals to Vijaya Balan,” mentioned Joseph.
Joseph added that although he was injured and the property by which he was staying was washed away within the Puthumala catastrophe, all that he had obtained as compensation was simply Rs 17,000.
“Although authorities had promised that homes could be supplied, nothing has occurred,” Joseph mentioned.