Documents on high-value transactions damaged by ravaging floods

Do not dry documents dampened by floodwaters under the sun, as UV rays and heat radiation may permanently damage them to unrecoverable levels, according to archival conservationists.

The restoration and recovery of soggy documents, including identity cards, tax receipts, and bank and property documents, have evolved as a matter of concern for individuals as well as institutions.

A large number of commercial establishments, including banks and other agencies, in the deluged areas too are heading for a crisis, with thousands of documents pertaining to high-value transactions soaked and damaged by mud. Valuable and confidential documents of banks, financial agencies, and individuals kept in bank vaults were also damaged.

V.R. Shaji, head of the conservation department of the Centre for Heritage Studies (CHS), Thripunithura, suggested drying damp documents under shade or a fan before seeking the services of an expert conservationist.

The drying of documents shall be done under controlled weather conditions using hot air. The residue moisture shall be removed using some solvents. Documents dried under the sun will disintegrate in a short while.

Humidity will invite invite fungus attacks. Exposure to UV radiation could trigger chemical reactions on the paper and the ink used, leading to its discoloration and permanent damage, he cautioned.

Inter-leafing documents with insecticide paper will prevent fungal and insect attacks. Ideally, the job of removing stains shall be left to experts, he suggested.

The CHS will run a clinic (phone numbers: 94473 10397 and 0484-22776374) at the Hill Palace Museum on August 29 from 10 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. for conservation and restoration of damaged documents.

The time required for restoration will depend on the extent of damage, Dr. Shaji said.

Documents with minimum damage will be repaired and returned on the same day. Restoration of bigger materials like property documents and palm leaf manuscripts will take time, he added.

The CHS will also help victims generate reference and registration numbers of damaged documents like passports for applying for duplicate copies. While the services will be free for individual flood victims, it will be a chargeable affair for commercial establishments. A few individuals and banks have already approached the centre for the job, Dr. Shaji said.