Rescue workers carry the body of a victim after recovering it from the debris of a residential house following a landslide caused by heavy rainfall at Kokkayar village in Idukki district in the southern state of Kerala, India, October 17, 2021. Picture taken October 17, 2021 (Reuters)Kerala Rain News Today Latest Updates: As Kerala braces for another spell of downpour from October 20, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data shows that the southern state has received 135 per cent excess rain during the period from October 1 to 19. During the heavy spell on October 16 when the IMD issued a Red alert indicating extremely heavy rainfall, numerous incidents of landslips and other rain-related accidents were reported from south-central districts of Kerala, resulting in at least 27 deaths. The season’s rainfall data on IMD website shows that the normal rainfall for the period of October 1 to 19 was 192.7 mm whereas the actual rainfall was 453.5 mm.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan advised the public to exercise extreme caution in the wake of India Meteorological Department predicting more heavy showers in the state in coming days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued Orange alert in 11 districts of Kerala including Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur for October 20 and Yellow alert in Kasaragod, Alappuzha and Kollam. An Orange alert has been issued for all districts other than Kannur and Kasaragod on October 21. IMD has forecast heavy rain for three days beginning October 20 in several parts of Kerala.
As a precautionary measure, water was released from the Idukki reservoir at 11 am Tuesday as the state’s largest reservoir, which accounts for more than 93 per cent of its live storage capacity, is rapidly filling up after heavy rain. This is the second time in three years that water was released from the reservoir, the largest in the state and one of the highest arch dams in Asia. The state government has sounded an alert in downstream areas of the Idukki dam, including suburban areas of Kochi, and begun evacuating families that could be affected by the likely flash floods.
Meanwhile, with the Navy and NDRF recovering more bodies from under the debris at Koottickal in Kottayam district and Kokkayar in neighbouring Idukki district, the death toll in the devastating landslides and flash floods climbed to 27 on Monday. According to the state disaster management authority, the toll from rain-related incidents rose to 38 since October 12. According to the state government’s figures, while 13 bodies were recovered from the landslide-hit area of Plappally in Koottickal panchayat, nine were retrieved from Kokkayar.
As Kerala braces for another spell of downpour from October 20, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data shows that the southern state has received 135 per cent excess rain during the period from October 1 to 19. During the heavy spell on October 16 when the IMD issued a Red alert indicating extremely heavy rainfall, numerous incidents of landslips and other rain-related accidents were reported from south-central districts of Kerala, resulting in at least 24 deaths.
The season's rainfall data on IMD website shows that the normal rainfall for the period of October 1 to 19 was 192.7 mm whereas the actual rainfall was 453.5 mm. There is a "large excess departure" of 135 per cent, the website says. Except for Thrissur and Alappuzha, all other districts have received over 100 per cent of the usual rainfall. While Kozhikode saw the highest increase (223 per cent excess), Alappuzha saw the least increase (66 per cent) in rainfall.
"During October-December, through the north-east Monsoon, the state receives an average rainfall of 491.6 mm, which is 16.8 percent of the annual rainfall. This year, the state has received 453.5 mm rain during Oct 1-19, instead of the usual 192.7 mm. This means that the state has already received over 90 per cent of this season's rainfall. The heavy downpour which the state witnessed recently marks withdrawal of the southwest monsoon which normally ends by September 30," a senior IMD official told PTI.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has advised the public to exercise extreme caution in the wake of India Meteorological Department predicting more heavy showers in the state in coming days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued Orange alert in 11 districts of Kerala including Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur for October 20 and Yellow alert in Kasaragod, Alappuzha and Kollam. An Orange alert has been issued for all districts other than Kannur and Kasaragod on October 21. IMD has forecast heavy rain for three days beginning October 20 in several parts of Kerala.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange alert for all districts other than Kannur and Kasaragod on October 21.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued Orange alert in 11 districts of Kerala including Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur districts for October 20 and Yellow alert in Kasaragod, Alappuzha and Kollam.
By Tuesday evening, around 4 pm, the water is expected to flow through Periyar and its tributaries by panchayats adjoining Aluva town like Keezhmad and Chengamanad and finally join the Arabian Sea. The decision to open the shutters of the Cheruthoni dam, as well as the Idamalayar and Pamba dams, on Tuesday was taken by a high-level committee appointed by the state government to look into the technical aspects of the water level in the dams and the impact it would have on settlements alongside the rivers.
The monsoon is over but several parts of the country are still receiving rainfall. Delhi, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand, for example, have received very high rainfall in the last few days, resulting in loss of life and property in some places. Delhi has just had one of its wettest 24-hour periods in several decades.
Scientists say a combination of factors — delayed monsoon and development of low-pressure areas at multiple places — have resulted in these rainfall events at several places. Read more here
Along the basin of Chalakudy river in Thrissur district, people have been evacuated from low-lying areas after Sholayar, Peringalkuthu and Parambikulam dams were opened. In Ernakulam district as well, local governing bodies along the banks of Periyar have been alerted to shift people in the wake of rising waters.
The minister said all precautionary measures have been taken and people living along the banks of Periyar river basin have been alerted. Already, 64 families which would be immediately affected by opening dam shutters have been evacuated. All tourism centres in the district, including Munnar, have been closed, he said.
Minister Saji Cheriyan, who is overseeing the relief measures in Alappuzha district, said as the Kakki dam was opened, vigil has been maintained in Chengannur, Pandanad and Thiruvandoor (which had been hit badly in the flood of 2018). Fishermen have been roped in for rescue operations in addition to the two teams of NDRF. “Twenty-three fishermen groups are in the field. Service of more fishermen would be ensured,’’ he said.
With predictions by the Meteorological Department of a fresh bout of heavy rainfall starting Wednesday, as a precautionary measure, water was released from the Idukki reservoir at 11 am Tuesday. This is the second time in three years that water was released from the reservoir, the largest in the state and one of the highest arch dams in Asia.
Since the reservoir itself doesn't have shutters, two sluice gates of the Cheruthoni dam, part of the reservoir, were opened by 50 cm to release 100 cumecs of water. The water level at the time of opening was 2398.04 ft.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said an alert has been sounded and steps are on to shift people to safer locations when dams are opened. The number of relief camps has been increased to 240.
Water Resources Minister Roshi Augustine told the media that two shutters of Idukki dam would be opened by 50 cm to release one lakh liters of water per second. “The decision was taken considering the experiences of the past. We can ease the anxiety of the people by keeping the water level down. The water level at the dam would be maintained between 2395 and 2396 ft as against the full storage level of 2403 ft. At present the water level is at 2397.56 ft. The quantity of discharge would be decided after reviewing the inflow,’’ he said.
Evacuation has already begun in Kuttanad region, known for its backwater tourism, after several low-lying areas were flooded. People have been told to leave vulnerable areas in the region as the water level is set to rise following the opening of the Kakki dam in Pathanamthitta district. On Tuesday morning, another dam in Pathanamthitta, Pamba, will be opened, leading to rising water levels downstream including Kuttanad.
The Kerala government will open the shutters of the Idukki dam on Tuesday as the state’s largest reservoir, which accounts for more than 93 per cent of its live storage capacity, is rapidly filling up after heavy rain. On Monday, the toll from rain-related incidents rose to 38 since October 12, according to the state disaster management authority.
The state government has sounded an alert in downstream areas of the Idukki dam, including suburban areas of Kochi, and begun evacuating families that could be affected by the likely flash floods. The decision was taken after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast heavy rain for three days beginning October 20. Read More
Rainfall is expected to resume from Wednesday again, courtesy a fresh spell of easterly wave which likely to affect parts of southern India. The IMD has declared a code yellow alert in 11 of the 14 districts on that day.
Revenue Minister K Rajan has made it clear that with more rain predicted in the state in the forthcoming days, pilgrims cannot be allowed to enter the Sabarimala temple for the festivities associated with the Thulam month. Those stationed in the base camp of Nilakkal must return home, he requested.
A high-level review meeting headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is in progress in Thiruvananthapuram to take stock of the rising water levels in dams and reservoirs across the state as well as damages inflicted by the floods and landslides in the past few days. The reopening of colleges and other higher educational institutions following the Covid lockdown has been delayed to October 25 now.
An orange alert was sounded at the Idukki dam at 7 am Monday after the water level in the reservoir touched 2396.86 ft. The full reservoir level is 2403 ft. Ernakulam collector Jafar Malik said in a Facebook post that the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), which manages the dam and generates power from it, has conveyed that the water level in the dam is likely to touch the red alert level of 2397.86 ft by Monday evening and the upper rule level of 2398.86 ft by Tuesday morning.
Additionally, there have been deaths by drowning in Kozhikode, Thrissur and Palakkad districts. On Saturday, two people drowned when the car they were travelling in was swept away by floodwaters in the Kanjar area of Idukki district.
The death toll following floods and landslides in Kerala climbed up to 27 on Monday as more bodies were recovered from under the debris at Koottickal in Kottayam district and Kokkayar in neighbouring Idukki district.
According to the state government’s figures, while 13 bodies were recovered from the landslide-hit area of Plappally in Koottickal panchayat, nine were retrieved from Kokkayar. Early Monday morning, as rain abated and rescue operations resumed in Kokkayar, the body of seven-year-old Sachu Shahul was the last to be found. Rescue operations are going on to find the whereabouts of Ancy, a woman who had gone missing near the area where the panchayat office is located during the landslide.
Hello and welcome to our Kerala rains Live blog. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rain for three days beginning October 20 in several parts of Kerala, and the death toll following landslides and flash floods has climbed to 27. Follow this space to get all thge latest updates!