Flash floods triggered by incessant rains and landslips in the hilly forest areas submerged the eastern part of the district on Thursday, disrupting normal life and wreaking heavy damage to property and crops.
The Chaliyar river, which drains its waters into the Arabian Sea at Beypore by flowing in a westerly direction along the Kozhikode-Malappuram border, took the brunt of the devastation as water level rose by over 10 ft overnight.
Many families living along the banks of the Chaliyar were evacuated to safer places. Schools and other educational institutions in Nilambur, Eranad, and Kondotty taluks were given a holiday on Thursday. Floodwaters submerged roads at Nilambur, Pothukal, Munderi, Mampad, Wandoor, Pandikkad, Edavannappara, Areekode, Edavanna, Vazhakkad, Kalikavu, and Karuvarakundu regions of the district.
ADVERTISEMENT
Several roads and footbridges were destroyed in the floods. The road connecting Naduvathu with Vellamburam in Wandoor panchayat gave in under the surging waters. The swollen Chaliyar took away a major portion of a steel bridge at Murkhanad. Revenue officials said the damage was huge but the extent could not be evaluated yet. They said the exact damage could be assessed only when the floods receded.
Although the Bharatapuzha and the Kadalundipuzha too were swollen, they did not show the wrath displayed by the Chaliyar.
The Bharatapuzha submerged a part of Mini Pampa at Kuttippuram.
ADVERTISEMENT
People were forbidden from entering the river at Mini Pampa as the Bharatapuzha flowed mightily downstream.
District Collector Amit Meena declared a holiday on Friday for educational institutions, including anganwadis, in Nilambur taluk, Areekode, Edavanna, Urangattiri, Keezhuparamba, and Pandikkad panchayats of Eranad taluk, and Vazhayur, Vazhakkad, Muthuvallur, and Cheekode panchayats of Kondotty taluk.
However, professional colleges have been exempted from the holiday. District Collector Amit Meena declared a holiday on Friday for educational institutions, including anganwadis, in Nilambur taluk, Areekode, Edavanna, Urangattiri, Keezhuparamba, and Pandikkad panchayats of Eranad taluk, and Vazhayur, Vazhakkad, Muthuvallur and Cheekode panchayats of Kondotty taluk.
However, professional colleges have been exempted from the holiday.
In Thrissur
The heavy rain that has been lashing the district for the past two days has caused extensive damage. Standing crops were submerged in water in many areas.
All the rivers are overflowing. Many houses got isolated as the Manali and Chalakkudy rivers started overflowing. Around 200 families have been shifted to three relief camps.
However, there was a decrease in rainfall at the catchment areas of Peechi. Meanwhile, the authorities have issued an alert about opening of the shutters of the Chimmini dam as the water level is fast reaching the maximum level.
Landslip near the mouth of the Kuthiran tunnel continued for the second day on Thursday.