With heavy rain pounding several parts of Kerala, the water level in Meenachil, Pamba, Manimala and Achankovil rivers have risen breaching the banks and inundating nearby areas. After a brief let-up, the rain has intensified in hilly areas of Kozhikode district on Wednesday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert in Malappuram and Kozhikode warning of extremely heavy rainfall on Wednesday.
The death toll in the rain, landslides and electrocution rose to 97 with four more bodies being recovered from Kavalappara in Malappuram district which was hit by a deadly landslide last week. The Meenachil River has inundated in Erattupetta-Pala road in Kottayam district prompting the shop owners in the area to evacuate. Heavy rain lashed Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts on Wednesday morning hampering the relief activities. Authorities are on a high alert with weathermen forecasting isolated extremely heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours.
A total of 2.26 lakh people, who were displaced by the floods and landslides, have been housed in 1,239 relief camps, officials said. The worst-hit Malappuram had been ravaged by massive landslides at Kavalappara and Kottakunnu on August 8 from where 23 bodies were recovered. In Kavalappara, the search is on to find 36 people who have been reported missing. In Wayanad, which was also ravaged by a landslide at Puthumala in Meppadi, 12 people have died and seven are still missing.
Due to the strengthening of the low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, extremely heavy rains are expected to lash several parts of the state, Director of India Meteorological Department (IMD) at Thiruvananthapuram, K Santosh said. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan toured the affected areas in Malappuram and Wayanad on Wednesday. A Defence press release said the chief minister also made an aerial survey over the flood-affected areas in these districts in an IAF Mi-17 helicopter.
Meanwhile, in view of the devastation caused by floods and landslides, Governor P Sathasivam has cancelled the 'At Home' function scheduled to be held on August 15 at the Raj Bhavan as part of Independence day celebrations. Addressing the flood-hit at a relief camp in Meppadi in Wayanad, Pinarayi said, "the government is with you..we need to overcome all difficulties and hardships together."
The government is now giving priority to rescue measures after which it would focus on rehabilitation initiatives, he said. "There are several people who have completely lost their houses and properties and suffered crop loss. Some more people, who have gone missing, are yet to be traced and efforts are on to nd them," he said. Pinarayi also visited relief centres in Malappuram and held discussions with people's representatives and officials.
Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi had toured the affected areas and relief camps promising all help to the people. In a Facebook post, he praised the flood-hit people of his Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, saying the bravery and dignity displayed by them in the face of tragedy was "truly humbling." At least 11,159 houses have been damaged partially in various parts of the state and 1,057 fully in rain-related incidents.
A holiday has been declared for educational institutions in 11 districts – Pathanamthitta, Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Wayanad, Malappuram, Kannur, Kottayam, Alappuzha and Idukki —on Wednesday as heavy rains have been predicted and many schools have been converted as relief centres. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 52 crore immediate assistance to Kerala on Tuesday while the state government has sanctioned three-month free ration for the victims of natural disaster. This was announced by Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan.
Medicines worth Rs 4 crore would also be sent, he added. "I was told by the Union Minister of State for Home that when he asked the Kerala Chief Minister if he was happy with the Centre's response, Pinarayi Vijayan remarked, 'This is enough'," said Muraleedharan, who will be touring Wayanad and Malappuram on Friday. Kerala Health Minister K.K. Shailaja after a review meeting said with people returning to their homes would be shocked to see the condition of their houses. "Special counselling sessions would be conducted and people are advised to follow medical professionals' advice," said Shailaja. The health department has stated that people in direct contact with flood waters should take a dose of doxicycline.
