Flooding forces families in Pantheerankavu to abandon homes

Residents blame flawed NH drainage system for flooding, allege official responses have so far been mere technical explanations and not concrete relief measures

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Kozhikode

As many as seven residents of Pantheerankavu, Kozhikode, have been forced to abandon their homes after repeated episodes of rainwater flooding their neighborhood since the onset of the monsoon on May 20. According to the locals, many families are indirectly affected due to the water flow in the national highway drainage system. Families who have been living in the area for more than 25 years describe the current situation as one of the worst in their recent memory.

Stagnant water has surrounded their houses, creating unbearable living conditions and threatening the health of both children and elderly residents. Residents say the issue worsened after heavy rain in recent weeks. Efforts to redirect excess rainwater into the national highway drainage system have backfired, with water from the highway drains now flowing back into residential properties.

"We tried channeling the water into the highway drains. But it made matters worse. The water is now flowing back into our homes," said one affected resident.