The death toll in rain-related incidents in Kerala rose to 27 on October 17, with the recovery of more bodies from the landslip-ravaged areas of Kottayam and Idukki districts.

In pictures | Heavy rain and landslides over southern Kerala

While the government agencies are yet to complete assessment of the total losses, preliminary reports suggested that houses located within a two-kilometre stretch on the banks of the Pullakayar river were destroyed with the water level rising upto 15 feet.

The heavy rain and landslides were also reported to have caused flash floods in the Thalunkal, Yendayar and Kokkayar rivers, the tributaries of the Pullakayar. Hundreds from Kodunga, Ilamkadu, and Koottikkal Chappath have been shifted to the relief camps opened at St Mary’s School, Koottikkal, and JJ Murphy School, in Yendayar.

Floodwaters have entered a number of houses in Thalavady, Neerattupuram, Thakazhi, Muttar, Edathua, Veeyapuram, and Pallippad in Upper Kuttanad. Water also entered the Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathy temple.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 17 spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the situation in the wake of heavy rains and landslides in the state.  The toll from disastrous flooding caused by heavy rains and landslides in hilly areas of two central Kerala districts rose to 18 as rescue workers recovered more bodies from the rubbles on October 17.

Here are the latest updates:

Idukki | 2-25 pm

Search operations in progress at Kokkayar landslide

Search operations in progress at Kokkayar landslide site in Kerala’s Idukki district

 

Tiruvananthapuram | 2-21 pm

Expert panel to ensure dam safety, regulate outflow

The State government on October 18 constituted an expert committee to regulate the release of water from 81 dams straddling swollen rivers in rain-ravaged Kerala.

The government constituted an expert panel including climatologists, structural engineers and hydrologists to help the administration manage dams during extreme weather. The expert committee would primarily regulate the opening and closing of spillways.

 

Kerala | 2-19 pm

Government disallows pilgrims to Sabarimala due to extreme weather

In view of the expected worsening of the weather from October 20 till October 24, according to IMD information, they said it would not be possible to permit pilgrimage to the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala for the Thula Masam poojas for which the shrine had been opened from October 16.

Revenue Minister K. Rajan and Health Minister Veena George said there is “no other option” but to stop the pilgrimage for now, as otherwise it would be difficult to safely rescue everyone if water levels in the nearby Pampa river were to rise further due to the heavy rains predicted from October 20.

Kochi | 1-08 pm

Sholayar dam gate opened

One gate of the Sholayar dam opened by one feet to release 24.47 m3 water per second.

 

Thrissur | 1-00 pm

Body of elderly man drowned in flood water recovered

Body of an elderly person, who drowned in flood water, was recovered on October 18. The deceased was identified as Joseph, 72, of Kundukad, who was residing near Nirmala High School.

As shutters of Kerala Sholayar dam opened, water level increased in Chalakudy river. People on the banks of the river have been asked to be vigilant. 

 

Kochi | 12-31 pm

Emergency control room numbers for Kerala floods

Idukki district authorities will be asked to ensure immediate evacuation of people likely to be affected by water level rise in the river.

There are the emergency control room numbers:

1. Emergency Operations Centre (Toll Free Helpline): 1077

Landline: 0484-2423513

Mobile: 9400021077

2. Taluk Control Rooms

a. Aluva: 0484 2624052

b. Kanayanoor: 0484 2360704

c. Kochi: 0484 2215559

d. Kothamangalam-0485 2860468

e. Kunnathunadu: 0484 2522224

f. Muvattupuzha-0485 2813773

g. Paravoor-0484 2972817

 

Kochi | 12-24 pm

Contact numbers of all district emergency operation centres

Here are the contact numbers of district emergency numbers

State DM Toll free-1079, 1070

District DM Toll free: 1077

1. Thiruvananthapuram:

Mobile: 9497711281

Landline: 0471-2730045

2. Kollam

Mobile: 9447677800

Landline: 0474-2794002

3. Pathanamthitta

Mobile: 8078808915

Landline: 0468-2322515

4. Alappuzha

Mobile: 9495003640

Landline: 0477-2238630

5. Kottayam

Mobile: 9446562236

Landline: 0481-2566300

6. Idukki

Mobile: 9383463036

Landline: 04862-233111

7. Ernakulam

Mobile: 9400021077

Landline: 0484-2423513

8. Thrissur

Mobile: 9447074424

Landline: 0487-2362424

9. Palakkad

Mobile: 8921994727

Landline: 0491-2505309/2505207

10. Malappuram

Mobile: 9383464212

Landline: 0483-2736320

11. Kozhikode

Mobile: 9446538900

Landline: 0495-2371002

12. Wayanad

Mobile: 8078409770

Landline: 04936-204151

13. Kannur

Mobile: 9446682300

Landline: 0497-2713266

14. Kasaragod

Mobile: 9446601700

Landline: 0499-4257700

-Kerala Bureau

 

Kochi | 12-23 pm

Water in Idukki reservoir to reach Red Alert level

Water in Idukki reservoir to reach RED ALERT level & that of Edamalayar dam at ORANGE ALERT level by today (18.10.2021) evening, as per KSEB assessment. State-level expert committee will review the situation & issue specific instructions to Idukki, Ernakulam dist collectors. -Kerala Bureau

Kerala | 12-19 pm

Interview | Even after several flood disasters in Kerala, politicians’ mindset has not changed towards developmental projects, says geoscientist

C. P. Rajendran says State must think how to implement an advanced environmental protection system that will ultimately reduce the human cost.

“The mindset of politicians in their approach to development projects has not changed even after several flood disasters in the recent past in Kerala,” says C. P. Rajendran, geoscientist and Adjunct Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, in an e-mail interview to Rashtra News as the State continues to reel under the effects of flood and rain havoc.

Read the whole interview here

Kerala | 12-09 pm

More rains likely in Kerala over the next two days

A fresh spell of easterly wave is likely to affect south Peninsular India from October 20, 2021 and cause fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls likely over Kerala and Mahe, likely to continue for two to three days. -Indian Meteorological Department

Idukki | 11-20 am

Water level in Idukki dam rising rapidly

The water level in Idukki dam has been rising rapidly and the district authorities have declared an orange alert.

As the water level at various dams including Sholayar, Pamba, Kakki and Idamalayar are rising, the state government has called a meeting which will be chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take stock of the situation.

An Orange alert has been issued for the Pamba dam and the Kakki dam will be opened before afternoon today, state health minister Veena George, who is in charge of Pathanamthitta district, has said.

Tiruvananthapuram | 11-05 am

Five more NDRF teams deployed; IMD warns of fresh rain

Five more teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will be deployed in Idukki, Kottayam, Kannur, Palakkad and Kollam districts, the Chief Minister said on October 17. At present, the NDRF has teams deployed in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram districts.

Till October 17, 156 relief camps had been opened in the State, the government said. Across the State, 1,253 families (4,713 persons) have been evacuated to various camps since October 11. This includes 321 families in Kottayam district and 219 families in Idukki.

 

Thrissur | 11-03 am

Thrissur takes steps against relentless rain

With no let-up in downpour, low-lying areas in Thrissur district have come under water. Shutters of all dams in the districts have been opened and all rivers are in spate. People were evacuated from the banks of rivers and high ranges on Sunday.

Forty families were evacuated from the Puthur panchayat, where there is a threat of landslips. While 11 families were shifted to a relief camp opened at St. John’s Academy, Vettukad, others were shifted to their relatives’ houses. Ten families were shifted from Kokkath Colony in Kainur.

 

Tiruvananthapuram | 11-00 am

Flash floods, landslides in Kerala caused by Mini cloudburst events, claims expert

The brief, intense rain spells in a couple of regions in Kerala indicated mini cloudbursts, a factor that also led to casualties, damage and loss of properties, a scientist at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) claimed on October 17.

Citing more than 5 cm rain received in two hours in worst affected areas of Idukki and Kottayam districts, S Abhilash of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, CUSAT said it was a “mesoscale mini-cloudburst type of event”. -PTI