Rescue and relief efforts by the forces are under way in various places across the State.
The army has deployed eight columns of troops. Adimali in Idukki has two columns of army – one from the military station in Pangode in Thiruvananthapuram and another from the Defence Security Corps in Kannur – at work. The DSC has sent out five columns in all and the deployment is in areas such as Iritty in Kannur, Thamarassery in Kozhikode and Panamaram and Vythiri in Wayanad, which have been badly affected by landslips. An army column is carrying out relief operations in Malappuram as well.
Besides, three columns of Military Engineering Services (MES) personnel, one from Hyderabad and two from Bengaluru, are also engaged in relief operations. Sources said strong currents in rivers had put the brakes on relief efforts at Vythiri and Mananthavadi. “Thamarassery at the foothills of Wayanad is badly affected. The army is learnt to have built bridges wherever needed. In Idukki, the operations are undertaken in small teams. The Air Force, which transported NDRF personnel on Thursday, continues to be on standby with helicopters in Kochi,” said a source.
The Navy has pressed into action four teams in all. While two teams are engaged in relief work in Aluva, two are in Wayanad. That apart, two diving teams, all geared up, are on standby. “We also have a 50-member contingent stationed at Kalamassery to strengthen the rescue efforts. Two 50-member teams, in the meantime, are awaiting orders for relief work in and around Kochi,” said a naval spokesperson.
The Coast Guard district headquarters at Fort Kochi deployed a team at Chellamattom village close to the Cochin International Airport for relief operations. “Another team has been positioned at Aluva under the District Collector. There’s a third team on standby at Alapuzha. All teams are equipped with boats and rescue gear,” said a Coast Guard official.
Paravur region prepared for rise in water level
Anticipating a drastic rise in water level in the Periyar River with an increased release at the rate of 300 cumecs of water from Cheruthoni dam in Idukki reaching the Paravur region in the next four hours, evacuation of people from areas likely to be affected is in full swing.
The administration has opened 42 camps in the region so far in which nearly 8,000 people from 1,850 families have been sheltered, according to Paravur Tehsildar M.H. Harish. In all, 64 camps have been opened in the Ernakulam region and 9,401 people have been provided shelter.
Villages such as Kunnukara, Puthenvelikkara, Varapuzha, Eloor, Kadungalloor and Chendamangalam are already affected by the floods and people in these areas have been evacuated to safety. “The rise in water level may cause flooding in Moothakunnam, Alangad and Kadungalloor villages and we have taken steps to shift more people to safer locations and camps. A 30-member army team is slated to reach Chendamangalam in the afternoon for relief operations. We have also made arrangements for supply of food and essentials to affected people,” Mr. Harish said.
The administration has also sent out medical teams and bedridden patients have been shifted to hospitals.
