The southwest parts of Thrissur district is still reeling under the rude shock of flash floods started on Friday night even as situation improves in other parts of the district.
The 42 villages in and around kole fields and on the banks of Canolly canal and Herbert canal are inundated as Krivannur River diverted its direction near the Arattupuzha Temple and Ettumuna areas.
Karivannur River, to which the water from Chimmini reservoir and Manali river reach, diverted its direction as temporary bund at Chirakuzhy breached. Bund road from Arattupuzha-Karivannur was destroyed and the river spread to seven kilometers on both sides. Arattupuzha is also overflowing.
Around 200 people from 30-odd families, from Pallissery-Panankulam to Arattupuzha bridge, got stranded in the unexpected flash floods. They were later rescued by NDRF teams. Around 20 relief camps have been started in Cherpu area. As water rose, Thrissur-Kodungallur Road was submerged.
Flood water entered hundreds of houses in Cherpu, Arattupuzha, Ettumuna, Muthulliyal, Chenam, Inchamudi, Pullu, Manakody, Chettupuzha and Panankulam areas.
As the water reached kole fields, thousands of people from the banks of Canolly canal were shifted to relief camps. The water current was strong enough to make it difficult to differentiate between kole fields and roads. Thousands of acres of kole fields couldn't contain the flash floods and water was not flowing to the sea due to high tides. Rumours about a breach in the Enamavu lock too created panic in the area. Valappad-Chavakkad road too was inundated, but major causalities were averted as people voluntarily vacated the areas before the flood situation worsened.
Ministers A.C. Moideen and V.S. Sunil Kumar reached Arattupuzha and reviewed the situation. The help of the Army will be sought to reconstruct the breeched bund to control the flow of Karivannur river, Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar said.