Panic gripped residents as water level in Kannappankundu river rose suddenly on Friday evening. The district has remained vigilant ever since the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) declared yellow alert.
Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Mukkom who reached the spot following distress calls said the unexpected rise in water level was due to heavy rain and a suspected landslip on Mattikkunnu hill.
The flow of mud and other remnants from the previous floods too made the situation scary for residents, they added.
Following the declaration of yellow alert, residents were highly watchful of chances of landslips and flash floods. The Revenue Department squad and officials of the local panchayat too had advised them to be alert and to keep a safe distance from the riverbed.
It was on August 9 that Kannappankundu village in Puthuppadi panchayat first faced a flash flood following heavy rain and multiple landslips. The raging Kannappankundu river had then damaged half-a-dozen houses in the area and forced around 30 families move to relief camps.
A youth had also lost his life in the incident.
Joseph Devassia, a local resident, said the latest incident had shaken families who were in the final stage of repairing their damaged houses.
“In the wake of the situation, the disaster management authorities have asked a few residents to move to relief camps,” he added.