Kodunkattu (The Cyclone)

In Padoor’s history, the Malabar Cyclone of 1941 is considered to be a historical tab holder. Rarely an older incident is narrated by our Gran's without the reference to the Kodunkattu (Cyclone). Invariably an event is either that many years before the Kodunkattu or so many years after it.

It is only too obvious that how severely the cyclone must have affected life in our area.

Meteorological analysts say that cyclonic storms coming direct from the sea are not normally struck the Malabar Coast. Since 1845 there have been just three recorded storms of this type that hit Malabar. The types of storms that develops in the sea and directly hit the coast, cause more destruction in the coastal areas.

In this instance, the coastal area of the Ponnani Taluk (including the now defunct Kundazhiyoor Panchayath) was the most terribly affected.

The cyclonic storm and rain lasted for two days on the 26th and 27th May 1941. Widespread destruction was reported caused in Padoor. The Canolly Canal was virtually turning in to a sea, houses were submerged, people were trapped inside or on rooftops of their own houses, houses collapsed and properties damaged, paddy crops went under water. There were not enough canoes available to rescue trapped people. The canal was bringing corpses of people and animals as well as uprooted trees from the elevated plains.

Shops and warehouses were also affected and the food stocks were spoiled or lost. People were starving and some had to even survive on eating grass or leaves long after the water had subsided.

In the aftermath of the destruction, the district collector of the Malabar had come to visit Padoor to assess the damages. A reception was hosted to the Government delegation and memorandum submitted.

Reportedly Mr. Ibrahim Sulaiman Sait, who at 19 was the rising star in the All India Muslim League at that time, was accompanying the delegation. The elders who met that delegation included Bukharayil Koyakkutty Thangal (father of B V Seethi Thangal), Puthenpurayil R P Bavoo Sahib and Kariat Kunhi Bappu Sahib.

History: Where do we fit (1)

Padoor lies in the immediate vicinity of some of the earliest known historical points in the state.

The ancient sea port of Kodungallur (see note 1 below) is not far.

The important port of the yesteryears, Chettuwai, which played a crucial role in trade and had been of strategically vital for the Zamorin’s Kingdom is barely few kilometers away down through the Chettuwai River.

As we all know, there is very limited information available about the ancient period of Kerala history. This is because there is hardly any written record left behind our ancestors. Many of the facts passed as history are words of mouth, myths or speculations; not enough evidence ever found to prove them. 

There are geologists who believed that Kerala was formed by some seismic activity, gradually or suddenly. Some researchers say that the Arabian Sea once extended as far inland as the Kalladikkodan mountain ranges. Geological changes resulted in recession of the sea, leaving dry large tracts of land. 

About the underlying areas of Padoor, the seismic or environment changes appear to bear particular relevance. There is an argument that a part of Chavakkad Taluk had been under the sea prior to the flood of 1341 and these parts of land were formed as a result a geographical drift following the 1341 nature’s event.