Kerala continues to battle with a resurgent monsoon on Thursday, with cities and villages submerged by floodwaters. The State, which is facing the worst floods in history, saw as many as 67 deaths due to rain-related incidents, 24 of which was lost on August 15 alone.
Flight operations have been suspended till August 18 at Kochi airport and many trains in the Thiruvananthapuram-Nagarcoil route have been cancelled due to flooding and landslips. Kochi metro services have been suspended until further notice. Officials said a red alert has been sounded in all the 14 districts of the State.
From Kasaragod in the north to Thiruvananthapuram in the south, all rivers are in spate and shutters of 35 dams, including Mullaperiyar, have been opened.
Here are the latest updates:
Heavy rains in Palakkad
Heavy rains continue unabated in Mannarkkad region of Palakkad.
Two major landslips occured at Karadiyodu early in the morning. A three-member tribal family of Karadiyodu is missing as the local tribal settlement remains isolated. For the first time in history, the Kunthipuzha bridge has been submerged in water. Fifty odd houses on the banks of Kunthipuzha have been inundated. Road traffic to Attappady remains paralysed because of major landslip in Mannarkkad ghat section. Nellipuzha river is also overflowing in Mannarkkad, triggering fear among the residents. Rescue and rehabilitation works are on.
Kerala reels under its worst floods
A resurgent monsoon brought Kerala to its knees on Wednesday, with the State tottering under the worst floods in its history.
Submerged by floodwaters, cities and villages lay crippled as the circle of destruction widened.
As many as 24 were killed in rain-related incidents during the day and several missing, as the withering broadside unleashed by the monsoon rocked the State from one end to the other.
Rain claims 24 lives in a day; Munnar, Sabarimala cut off
As many as 24 persons lost their lives in various rain-related incidents in Kerala on Wednesday, taking the toll in the latest monsoon spell to 64 since August 8.
Twelve people were buried alive in two separate landslips that followed incessant rains in Malappuram on Wednesday.
While nine persons were buried under a huge mass of soil at Peringavu near Vazhayur in the afternoon, three members of a family died in sleep when their house caved in at Kaithakunda near Pulikkal in the early hours.
How to donate towards Kerala flood relief efforts:
Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) accepts voluntary contributions from Individuals, Organizations, Trusts, Companies and Institutions etc. All contributions towards CMDRF are exempt from Income Tax under section 80(G).
Donations now accepted through UPI mobile app like BHIM, paytm, Tez, Phonepe also.
(VPA : keralacmdrf@sbi) / Scan the QR Code to donate
For Bank Counter Payment
Beneficiary Name : Principal Secretary (Fin), Treasurer CMDRF
Bank Name : State Bank of India (SBI)
Account Number : 67319948232
Branch : City Branch, Thiruvananthapuram
IFSC : SBIN0070028
For offline Contribution
Cheque/Demand Draft can be drawn in the favour of Principal Secretary (Finance), Treasurer CMDRF, payable at Thiruvananthapuram. The same may be posted/mailed to the following address:
Principal Secretary (Finance)
Treasurer CMDRF
Secretariat
Thiruvananthapuram – 695 001
Kerala, INDIA
For effective collaboration and communications between authorities, volunteers and public, the following website has been created http://keralarescue.in/
(Information provided by the Chief Minister's Office, Kerala)
Emergency numbers:
Ernakulam: 0484-2423513, 7902200300, 7902200400
Idukki: 0486-2233111, 9061566111, 9383463036
Thrissur: 0487-2362424, 9447074424
(As provided by CMO Kerala)