The Southwest monsoon has intensified over Kerala, unleashing torrential rain across the State and leaving a trail of devastation.
Low lying areas in many northern districts were flooded, causing widespread damage to houses, infrastructure, and crops. As many as five persons were feared dead since Thursday. The Met Centre here warned of heavy rainfall (exceeding 7 cm) to very heavy rainfall (exceeding 13 cm) at isolated places in Kerala till the morning of August 3. Strong onshore winds from westerly direction, speed occasionally reaching 45- 55 kmph, would prevail along and off the Kerala coast and Lakshadweep during the next 24 hours, a weather warning issued by the centre said. Three people were feared dead on Friday, two in Kasaragod and one in Palakad district.
Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash told reporters in New Delhi that the State government had sought the help of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to tackle emergency situations in the wake of the heavy rainfall forecast issued by the Met Centre. He said three units of the NDRF would be stationed in Idukki, Ernakulam and Kozhikode.
The Minister said District Collectors had been asked to open control rooms in the calamity-prone areas and initiate steps for emergency evacuation. The shutters of the Kakkayam dam were opened and people in the downstream areas have been asked to remain vigilant.
Irikkur in Kannur registered the highest amount of rainfall (21.5 cm) in Kerala. Kozha in Kottayam recorded 18.84 cm, Kudlu in Kasaragod 17.6 cm, Mattannur 17.3 cm and Taliparamba 16.82 cm. Ottapalam registered 15.8 cm, Vadakkanchery 15.2 cm, Piravom 13.65 cm, Pattambi 13.42 cm and Vaikom 13.1 cm. Peerumade and Thodupuzha in Idukki district received 11.2 cm and 10.8 cm of rain respectively. The rainfall was relatively less in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Pathanamthitta districts.