Dam reservoirs and rivers overflowed, sections of highways collapsed and homes were swept away in severe flooding in more than half of Kerala, after days of incessant rain left nearly 54,000 people homeless and killed at least 29, officials said on Friday.
Five columns of the Army were deployed in the State’s seven severely-hit northern districts, out of Kerala’s 14, to help evacuate people and to build makeshift bridges even as the Navy’s Southern Command was put on alert after water level in the Periyar river rose amid concern that parts of Wellingdon Island in Kochi could be inundated.
Casualties
Almost all 40-odd rivers in the State are in spate, officials said.
Northern and central Kerala have been battered by heavy rains since August 8, which has left 29 people dead, including three today. Of them, 25 died in landslides and four in drowning. State officials said a total of 53,501 people are now housed in 439 relief camps across the State.
Tourists were barred from entering the hilly Idukki district after roads caved in at many places.
Army engineers are building small bridges to evacuate people stranded at various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad.
Red alert in Idukki
A red alert was issued for Idukki and its adjoining districts in view of the possibility of release of more water from the Idukki reservoir.
At least 50 tourists, including 24 foreigners, stranded at the Plum Judy resort at Munnar since Wednesday were rescued and taken to safer places, State Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said.
People living downstream of the Periyar river in Kochi, and the Cheruthoni river in Idukki have been alerted. Water levels had crossed the maximum storage capacity of 24 reservoirs out of the State’s 58 dams, forcing officials to release water from them, including three of the Idukki reservoir.
All five shutters of the Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir, the biggest arch dam in Asia, were opened today. One shutter was opened yesterday after a gap of 26 years; the fifth was opened after 40 years.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reviewed the flood situation and relief works being undertaken by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the NDRF in the morning.
Due to the increase in the water level at Idukki dam, “it is essential to release water three times more than what was being released now,” Vijayan said, adding that this will lead to rise in the water levels of the Periyar river and its tributaries. He appealed to people to be vigilant.
Vijayan has cancelled all his public functions till August 12, and will monitor the situation from the State capital.
Union Tourism Minister KJ Alphons Kannamthanam said he discussed the flood situation in Kerala with Home Minister Rajnath Singh this morning. Singh also spoke with Vijayan, and will make an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas on Sunday.
Central help
“The Government of India is providing all the required assistance, including the services of the armed forces, disaster management team and other required assistance. Any other immediate assistance requested by the Government of Kerala will be provided,” Alphons said in a Facebook post.
Colonel Ajai Sharma, Commandant of DSC Centre, who is overseeing relief and rescue operations, said five columns of the Army have been deployed in the northern districts since last night.
Small bridges have been constructed to evacuate stranded people in various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad areas, and rescue operations are currently under way. “The situation is under control,” he said.