INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
after Kerala's worst floods in a century is emerging as families return to their homes after days in relief camps
Suresh John and his family left their two-storey house in Chalakudi when the floodwaters rose 10 feet, almost submerging the building
They were forced to leave the dog.Their pet survived
But hardly anything else did."I don't have words, I feel destroyed, depressed
It will take a long time to rebuild everything and I don't have money," said Mr John, standing inside his wrecked home with daughter Elsa
"If my mother sees I don't have words," he repeated.The walls of the John home are heavily mottled, the furniture destroyed and books ruined
A film of mud and slush covers every floor and available surface.The family in Kerala's Chalakudi returns home from a relief camp, only to
find the destruction the floodwaters have left behind"We had to leave the dog here
We planned to stay upstairs, but the water kept rising, so we had to leave," said Elsa John.The teen could barely speak as she talked about
losing all her books and clothes
"All books are lost -- old books, new books, files, papers
My sister's , mine I only hope I was able to keep my certificates safe," said the teen.A film of mud and slush covers every floor and
available surface.Paul Chacko, a relative who accompanied the father and daughter on their grim homecoming, said, shaking his head in
disbelief: "Just to clean up all this is a Herculean task."His wife added: "A to Z, we have to do everything."191 have been killed and lakhs
driven out of their homes since the torrential rain started in Kerala on August 8
More than 400 people have died since the monsoon started in June.The floodwaters rose 10 feet, almost submerging the building in
Chalakudi.As rescue workers and military personnel continue their rescue mission, dozens of helicopters have been dropping tonnes of food,
medicine and water over areas cut off due to damaged roads and bridges.Chalakudi is in Thrissur, which, along with Chengannur, is among the
worst hit parts of Kerala
Rescuers are searching inundated houses where they have found the bodies of those trapped by the fast-rising floodwaters
Thousands are still believed to be trapped in Chengannur.(Kerala has to rebuild itself after the worst floods in over a century
Hundreds have died and lakhs are homeless
Here is how you can help.)
