The high ranges of central and south Kerala are witnessing conditions that are almost identical to those experienced by the state during the devastating floods of 2018 and 2019.
Heavy rains pounded south and central Kerala, creating flash floods and landslides in numerous areas, prompting the state administration to seek the help of the military forces for rescue operations. Devotees of Lord Ayyappa have been advised not to attend Sabarimala Temple today or tomorrow.
Meanwhile, on Sunday morning, the defence forces and NDRF teams began their rescue operations. Army, Air Force, and Navy personnel were at Koottickal and Peruvanthanam, two hilly villages in the Kottayam and Idukki districts, where an overflowing river smashed through buildings, displacing and isolating many people.
#WATCH | Kerala: NDRF team conducts rescue operation in Kokkayar, Idukki where landslide occurred yesterday pic.twitter.com/icTNMxsGhV
— ANI (@ANI) October 17, 2021
The high ranges of central and south Kerala are witnessing conditions that are almost identical to those experienced by the state during the terrible floods of 2018 and 2019, but authorities say everything is under control and there is no need to fear.
Rain-related incidents have left several people injured and displaced in the southern state, where dams in many districts are nearing capacity, and tiny towns and villages in the steep hills are completely cut off from the outside world. The state police and fire departments’ rescue squads, however, were unable to reach the affected districts due to flooding and poor weather conditions.
A man and a woman, both 30, died in a separate rain-related event when their car was swept away in flood waters in Kanjar, Idukki district, police said. They said their bodies had been found. Sheeba George, the Idukki district collector, told PTI tonight that eight people had gone missing as a result of a landslide accompanied by heavy rainfall at Kokkayar in the district.
According to a defence spokesperson, Mi-17 and Sarang helicopters are already on standby to meet the demands, but they are unable to begin operations due to the severe weather in Kottayam. Air Force assets are remain on standby at Sulur, she said.
According to the India Meteorological Department’s latest update, a ‘Red Alert’ has been issued for six districts: Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, and Palakkad. Due to torrential rainfall since Friday night, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta are the most impacted areas right now.
In the evening, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened a high-level conference to assess the rain situation and decide to beef up rescue efforts in all impacted areas. The Chief Minister stated in a statement that all government agencies have been asked to take the required efforts to rescue people from the impacted areas and evacuate those who live in landslide and flood-prone areas.
Vijayan also ordered district collectors to set up relief camps for those who have been displaced. He stated that the camps should operate in strict accordance with COVID-19 policy.
Following a forecast that the rains would last until October 19, the meeting decided that pilgrims would not be allowed to go to the Sabarimala Ayyappa shrine, which is located in a deep forest in Pathanamthitta district, until October 18. Today, at 5 p.m., the temple was opened for ‘Thula masam’ poojas.
Higher education institutions that were supposed to open on October 18 will now open on October 20, according to the announcement.
The CM said in a Facebook post that rains had already affected the south and central districts, and that they will strengthen in the northern districts by the evening, according to the meteorological forecast.
The water level in some rivers is predicted to rise, and dam shutters are likely to be opened, he said, adding that residents in the river’s catchment areas should be prepared to follow officials’ directions. The CM further stated that the dams under the KSEB, including Kakki dam in Pathanamthitta, Sholayar in Thrissur, Kundala and Kallarkutti in Idukki, had been placed on red alert.
(With inputs from The Financial Express.)
❤️ Support Independent Journalism
Your contribution keeps our reporting free, fearless, and accessible to everyone.
Or make a one-time donation
Secure via Razorpay • 12 monthly payments • Cancel anytime before next cycle
(We don't allow anyone to copy content. For Copyright or Use of Content related questions, visit here.)
The Chenab Times News Desk