Strong winds cause widespread damage in Kothamangalam

Kochi: Strong winds that lashed parts of Kothamangalam on Saturday caused widespread damage as uprooted trees fell on houses, KSEB poles and farmlands. Kothamangalam fire force personnel said huge trees fell on roads in Thrikkariyur, Chinkara, Chemmeenkuthu, Muthamkuzhi, Poochakuthu and other places, disrupting traffic movement on roads."We attended around 10 calls on Saturday evening following uprooting of trees. It took nearly five hours for two fire force teams to remove uprooted trees from 10 locations," said the officer. In view of strong winds and rain, oarsmen at Blavana ghat in Kuttampuzha relocated the raft to a safe place to avoid drifting in the winds. The raft is used by many, including tribespeople living in forests, to cross the river at Blavana ghat.Meanwhile, revenue officials in Kothamangalam said four to five houses suffered partial damage after trees fell on them. "No one was injured. Apart from partial damage to nearly five houses, most of the damage was reported in agriculture sector," said the official.The extent of crop damage will be known this week when agriculture department officials conduct field visits based on complaints from farmers.District has been witnessing huge crop damage in natural calamities this year. Tens of thousands of plantain plants with fruits were damaged in strong winds and rain that lashed Ernakulam on April 19.