The district administration has opened 56 relief camps in Kollam following torrential rain and multiple landslips in the Ghat section. A total of 3,600 people from 1,023 families are currently in various shelters, including 10 in Pathanapuram. Though there has been no causality so far, many parts of the district remain submerged.
Roads were flooded disrupting traffic and KSEB disconnected power supply for more than 24 hours to avoid the risk of electrocution. There will be no train services in the Kollam-Shencottah route for two days.
Storm forecast
The public has been asked to stay alert in view of heavy storms forecast by the Met department in seven districts, including Kollam.
Meanwhile, water level in Thenmala dam reached 115.8 m on Wednesday and out of the three shutters, two were raised by 2.4 m and the remaining one by 1.8 m. The inflow in the catchment area is reported to be strong and the authorities have initiated precautionary measures in highly flooded Punalur town and nearby areas.
Nearly 100 patients and the staff of Pranavam hospital at Punalur were moved to the upper floor as the lower levels were inundated by Wednesday afternoon.
The heavily flooded Elikattur bridge in Pathanapuram was closed on Wednesday and with Achencoil river in spate, many families in the area were moved to safer zones.
Curbs on traffic
The district administration has banned all vehicular traffic on the Thenmala-Shencottah route of NH 744 as multiple landslips were reported from the location. Currently, only emergency services are allowed in the area and a State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) team from Tamil Nadu has been deployed to divert vehicles from Tamil Nadu. The District The DFOs in Thenmala, Punalur, Achencoil and Deputy Director of Tourism have been asked to stop all tourist activities in locations near waterbodies and Ghat sections. The District Collector has also issued an instruction banning all mining work in the district.
Emergency numbers
Currently, 24-hour control rooms are functioning in district headquarters and all taluk offices. Public can contact the control rooms at 0474-2794002, 2794004, 94476 77800 (Kollam Collectorate), 0474-2742116 (Kollam taluk), 0476-2620223(Karunagappally taluk), 0474-2454623, 2453630(Kottarakara taluk), 0476-2830345 (Kunnathoor taluk), 0475-2350090 (Pathanapuram taluk), 0475-2222605(Punalur taluk).