Water tank collapse: Thammanam residents still await compensation

The residents of Thammanam, whose houses and belongings were damaged following the collapse of a water tank, are waiting for compensation even one week after the accident.

Last week, the huge water storage tank in Thammanam burst, jolting residents from their sleep and flooding their houses. The water tore down the walls of a few homes and caused extensive damage to material and property.

63-year-old Judith George’s house lies just next to the water tank. The premises of the house still resemble something left in the aftermath of a disaster. There is no compound wall, the gate was sliced into two by the waters, and only a broken vestige of it stands tall. “I am living here alone. My daughter lives upstairs but I do not feel safe. Without the compound wall, anyone can walk in and go,” says Ms. George.

Shyma Joseph, another resident, pointed out that the delay in getting the compensation was affecting the residents who suffered significant losses. 

Residents living on Kulathingal Bava Road in the Thammanam division of Kochi Corporation are still clueless as to when they will be compensated. Nishida, a resident who lives in the vicinity of the storage tank, was not in town the night the accident happened. “We were at our native, in Nilambur. After we came to know about the accident, we rushed back and while the water had drained, the inside of the house was packed with mud and dirt. Equipment such as the washing machine was ruined. We have given our clothes to a laundry service. We are not able to get back to our normal life and we do not know when we will be compensated for our losses either,” said Nishida.

‘Estimate being prepared’

A corporation official said that instructions had been given to clear the requests for the compensation on an urgent basis. District Collector G. Priyanka said that the total rough estimate for compensation has been placed at ₹12,33,000. “The corporation authorities are preparing an actual estimate. In an earlier meeting, the corporation secretary had been instructed to carry out an inspection to finalise the compensation,” she added. 

Water shortage

Acute drinking water shortage has also been reported in the area. The water supply got hit two days after the accident. The residents are managing with the supply from tanker lorries. Sources from the Kerala Water Authority said that the water supply was being hit because of a block in the line and that this was being sorted out. “They received water on Saturday but this was affected again. This will be fixed in a day,” the source said.