Massive clean-up drives in flood affected villages

Kozhikode: Over one lakh volunteers have enrolled for cleaning work in flood-hit villages in the northern districts. Kerala's all-women self-help group Kudumbashree has engaged over 50,000 members for the purpose.

"Volunteers from various organisation have identified over 15,000 spots in Wayanad. They are moving in batches and have started the cleaning mission. They remove the mud and slush from the houses, clean wells and the locality," an official told PTI.

The volunteers will clean the wells using "super chlorination" method and the state Suchitwa Mission has arranged material and equipment for the purposes, the official said.

State ministers Kadannappalli Ramachandran and T P Ramakrishnan are coordinating the cleaning mission.

Thousands of students, from National Cadets Corps (NCC) and National Service Scheme (NSS) have joined the cleaning initiative.

A health department official said vaccines have been provided for volunteers to prevent rat fever. "We have provided the volunteers gumboots and gloves," the official said.

As the rains receded, people have started returning to their homes after cleaning the accumulated mud and silt. Good Samaritans from neighbouring districts are also lending a helping hand in the clean-up operations.