The Alappuzha district administration on Thursday issued an alert in several parts of Karthikappally, Kuttanad, and Chengannur taluks after shutters of the Kakki dam in Pathanamthitta district were opened. Officials said that water level would rise at Veeyapuram, Cheruthana, Pallippad, Karuvatta, Cheppad, Thrikkunnapuzha and Kumarapuram in Karthikappally taluk; Thakazhi, Pulinkunnu, Kainakary, Edathua, Thalavady, Champakulam, Ramankary and Muttar in Kuttanad taluk; and Edanad, Mundankavu, Mangalam, Pandanad, Thiruvanvandoor, Karattisserry, and Mannar in Chengannur taluk.
An emergency meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority held at the district collectorate reviewed the situation. District Collector S. Suhas urged the people to remain vigilant.
Round-the-clock control rooms have been opened at district collectorate and at the taluk-level: 0477-2238630 (collectorate), 0477-2253771 (Ambalapuzha), 0478-2813103 (Cherthala), 0479-2412797 (Karthikappally), 0477- 2702221 (Kuttanad), 0479-2302216 (Mavelikara) and 0479-2452334 (Chengannur).
Trial run
Meanwhile, the KSRTC is likely to commence bus services along the Alappuzha-Changanassery (AC) Road from Friday. Although the KSRTC was conducting partial services on the road after water receded in several places, the road remained closed to traffic at Mankombu due to heavy waterlogging. Officials said that one side of the road at Mankombu had been made motorable. “The KSRTC conducted a trial run on Thursday. Although a portion of the road at Mankombu is still inundated, we have made arrangements for heavy vehicles, including buses, to ply on one side of the road. There are huge potholes on the road. We can start repairs only after water recedes,” said an official.
The road, inundated at several places, was closed for traffic for several days. Officials said dewatering process was going on but it would take a few more days to drain the water out. The State government has sanctioned ₹70 lakh for the maintenance of the road.
