THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Life has come to a standstill in Kerala with flood and landslides leading to unforeseen miseries and chaos. The series of landslides and similar accidents caused over 50 deaths in the last two days alone even though the official death toll for the last one week was pegged at 86. Unofficial reports said that there were at least 97 deaths in the last one week. Over 1.67 lakh people are rehabilitated in 1165 relief camps functioning in the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach the state capital on Friday evening and will conduct an aerial survey of affected regions on Saturday.
With the water level of Periyar, Chalakudy river and Pamba river rising further, high alert has been sounded in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts.
People being rescued from a flood-affected region following heavy rainfall in Kochi (PTI image)
Responding to state’s request, the centre has sent more contingents of military and national disaster relief force to Kerala. However, the situation in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam and Wayanad continue to be critical with the demand for help far exceeding the supply of help. The demand of opposition UDF that the entire rescue operation be handed over to military was turned down by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan who believes that the state government is handling the situation well in coordination with central forces. As per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directive, MoS Alphons Kannanthanam rushed to the state on Thursday evening and joined the control room at the secretariat.
Women being rescued from flood-affected region following heavy monsoon rainfall (PTI image)
A high-level meeting chaired by CM Pinarayi Vijayan decides to deploy 23 more helicopters for the rescue of stranded people, mainly in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts, from Friday morning. Setting a target for rescuing all stranded people by evening of Friday, the government will also deploy 200 more boats for rescue operations in addition to 250 boats which are now on field. According to Pinarayi Vijayan, 2500 stranded people from Ernakulam and 550 stranded people from Pathanamthitta were rescued on Thursday.
Rescue workers taking stranded people to safer places
Train traffic was disrupted in the state with tracks submerging at a few places. The railways have cancelled several trains and rescheduled a few others on Thursday. Traffic along Ernakulam – Kottayam – Thiruvananthapuram rail route has been suspended till 4pm on Friday. Train services through Thiruvanananthapuram -Alappuzha- Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram -Nagercoil-Tirunelveli will continue to be operated under suitable speed restrictions.
Recuse workers taking food to the stranded people at a house in Kannadaikka
Landslides and flooding caused the police to stop traffic on major roads including Thrissur – Palakkad NH, Adoor – Chengannur stretch of MC road, Alappuzha – Changanassery road and Tirur – Kuttippuram road.
The closure of Cochin International Airport has been extended till August 26 as there is no relief to flood situation. Diverted flights from Kochi began to land in Thiruvananthapuram and the proposal to allow operation of domestic flights from Naval airport, Kochi has been kept in abeyance as civil aviation ministry has pointed out several practical difficulties.
Isolation of people was reported from some parts of Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts too
Over 15,000 people are believed to be stranded in Pathanamthitta district alone which is cut off from other parts. There is no food, power supply and drinking water supply in the region. Armed forces and NDRF are leading rescue operations here. Isolation of people was reported from some parts of Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts too. Munnar hill station in Idukki remained cut off from other parts on the third consecutive day and with mobile phone networks also going dead, trapped tourists are in a panicked state there.
Indian navy and rescue personnel evacuate local residents in an boat at Aluva(AFP image)
The proposal to discharge more water from Idukki dam owing to raise of water level to 2402 ft on Thursday evening was kept in abeyance as Periyar on the downstream has overflown to over 7km on both sides. Authorities anticipate that more discharge of water from Idukki and Mullaperiyar will lead to flooding of more areas in Kochi and preparations to evacuate more people in the city in the event of situation worsening. The increased discharge from Peringalkuthu and Bhoothathankettu dams led to flooding of Chalakudy river.
The government advanced Onam holidays for schools in the wake of the calamity. Schools in the state will remain shut from August 17 to August 28.
Over 1.67 lakh people are rehabilitated in 1165 relief camps functioning in the state.
