Days of incessant rain have led to raging floods across Kerala. Buildings and infrastructure have collapsed, leaving over 54,000 people homeless.
At least 29 people have died in rain, flood, and landslide-related incidents, while tens-of-thousands have been evacuated from affected areas. The water level at the Idukki reservoir went down from 2,401.60 feet yesterday to 2,400.72 feet today. The maximum capacity of the reservoir is 2,403 feet, reports the NDTV.
Northern and central Kerala have been battered by heavy rains resulting from the southwest monsoon since August 8. Of the 29 people who died, 25 were killed in landslides, while four people drowned.
Officials said that over 54,000 people are now housed in around 500 relief camps across the state. The situation however, eased somewhat on Saturday afternoon, with the intensity of rain reducing considerably.
Five columns of the army have been deployed in the state's seven severely-hit northern districts, out of Kerala's 14, to help evacuate people, and to build makeshift bridges.
The Indian Navy's southern command has also been put on alert after water level in Periyar river rose amid concerns that parts of Wellingdon Island in Kochi could be completely inundated. Almost all of Kerala's 40-odd rivers are in spate, officials said.
Tourists have been barred from entering the hilly Idukki district after roads caved in at many places. Army soldiers are building small bridges to evacuate those stranded at various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad. The US has issued an advisory to all its citizens not to travel to Kerala due to the flood situation.
With the possibility of release of more water from the Idukki reservoir, the state government has issued a fourth red alert. The latest red alert is for Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Palakkad till August 11, Idukki till August 13, and Wayanad till August 14. People living downstream of the Periyar river in Kochi, and Cheruthoni river in Idukki have been warned of a possibility of inundation of banks.
Water level had crossed the maximum storage capacity of reservoirs of 24 out of the state's 58 dams, forcing officials to release the water by opening the sluice gates, including those of the Idukki reservoir. Two more shutters of the Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir, the biggest arch dam in Asia, were lifted yesterday.
Flood water also triggered landslides at many areas in the state. In fact, landslides have resulted in more deaths (25), when compared with floods (4). Union Minister KJ Alphons said on Friday that this is the biggest spell of rain Kerala has witnessed in over five decades. "This is the biggest spell of rain we have had in 50 years," the minister said.
BDST: 2025 HRS, AUG 11, 2018
AP
