Kerala: Heavy rains lashed several parts of Kerala for the second day Friday as the southwest monsoon intensified in the state after a period of lull. Due to incessant rains a flood like situation is created in Kerala where 14 people have died since yesterday and over 22,000 have been evacuated to 315 relief camps.
According to the India Meteorological Department website, some places in Kozhikode and Idukki districts, where a red alert has been sounded, recorded around 14 cm rainfall in the past 24 hours ended at 8.30 am Friday.
Some places in Malappuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Kottayam districts received rainfall of over 12 cm, it said.
In Wayanad, a huge landslide at Meppadi has marooned around 2,000 people. A temple, mosque and estate workers quarters have collapsed in the area. Minor landslips briefly affected traffic on the Ettumanoor-Peerumedu Road in Idukki district.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sought the army’s help and additional 13 more units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for the relief and rescue operations.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rains in the state till August 14. Red alerts have been issued in Idukki, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kozhikode districts. Barring the state capital district and neighbouring Kollam, the remaining 12 districts have been affected by rains.
The Kerala government has declared holiday for all schools across the state for Friday and university examinations have been postponed in the affected districts.
With Cochin International Airport flooded, operations have been suspended till 3 pm on Sunday.
Yellow alert has been issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kasargod districts.
The State Disaster Management Authority has asked all the departments to open control rooms at Taluk headquarters.
Here are the latest updates:
11:30 am: Red alert issued in 9 districts of Kerala which are expected to receive extremely heavy rainfall- Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kozhikode and Kannur. Orange alert in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam districts.
11:20 am: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi today about the flood situation in Kerala and sought assistance for those affected in the state, including in his constituency Wayanad. Rahul Gandhi called PM Modi and asked for relief and assistance for those affected.
10:45 am: Review meeting chaired by CM Pinarayi Vijayan underway. The CM will brief the press in a while.
10.20 am: Army deployed from Pangode military station Thiruvananthapuram
Total 3 columns deployed at:
1) Alappuzha: Headed by Lt Col
2) Pathanamthitta: Headed by Major
3) Ernakulam: Headed by Major
10:00 am: Around 60 people rescued and evacuated from Wayanad landslide area by the NDRF. It should take 10-12 hours for operations to complete. The landslide extends upto 2 kms. CM Vijayan will review the flood situation at 10 am at his conference Hall and likely to brief the media after the meeting.
9:45 am: 54 people have been rescued by NDRF from Puthumala near Meppadi in Wayanad, which was hit by a landslide. Around 100 people have been rescued so far.
9:30 am: Streets flooded in Areekode town of Kozhikode district due to heavy rainfall in the region.
9:20 am: Water enters houses in Muvattupuzha town of Ernakulam district. The region is reeling under flood due to rainfall.
9:15 am: DSC
Centre in Kannur is deploying total six columns of Army in the northern
districts of Kerala and Karnataka’s Coorg. One column each at:
1. Wayanad- Kalpetta
2. Virajpet- Coorg
3. Kannur
4. Iritty
5. Kozhikode
6. Thamarassery
9:10 am: Traffic through Pattambi bridge has been shut. Bharathapuzha River has swollen and water has started flowing over the top of the bridge.
8:50 am: 14 people have died in rain-related incidents in the state since yesterday.
8:45 am: Four members of a family died after their house collapsed due to mudslide in Edavanna region in Malappuram district.
8:40 am: Two bodies have been recovered from Meppadi in Wayanad district, where a landslide occurred yesterday.
8:35 am: Kerala government declares holiday for the day for all schools across the state.
8:25 am: 22,165 people have been evacuated to safety and lodged in 315 camps across the state, says Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KDSM).
8:15 am: Rescue operations underway in Puthumala, Wayanad after a landslide occurred yesterday.
8:00 am: Operations suspended at the Cochin International Airport till August 11 (Sunday), 3 pm.
7:45 am: Flooding in Nilambur city due to incessant rainfall.
Source: India Today
Image Source: NDTV