Kerala rains updates | May 15, 2021

17 relief camps have been opened across the State, accommodating more than 300 people.

May 15, 2021 10:01 am | Updated 11:13 pm IST

Roof of a building blown off by strong winds in Alappuzha on Saturday.

Roof of a building blown off by strong winds in Alappuzha on Saturday.

With the influence of the deep depression over the Arabian Sea is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm,.red alerts have been sounded for five northern districts — Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod — on Saturday given the likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall (in excess of 20 cm in a 24-hour period).

Here are the latest updates :

 

Navy deploys rescue teams in Kerala, IAF puts assets on standby

The Navy on Saturday deployed relief teams from Southern Naval Command which undertook rescue operations in Cyclone Tauktae affected area of Chellanam coast in Kerala. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has kept 16 transport aircraft and 18 helicopters on operational readiness in peninsular India in preparation for Cyclone Tauktae which is expected to cause very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall along the western coast in the next few days.

“Towards providing assistance to flood hit villages of Malaghapadi, Kampanipadi and Maruvakad in Chellanam, three Naval diving teams and one Quick Reaction Team from Southern Naval Command swung into action,” the Navy said in a statement.

The teams undertook rescue of personnel, provisioning of food and water and shifting of people trapped in houses to relief camp at St Mary's High School Chellanam in the harsh weather conditions, it added. The Navy has also put ships, aircraft and helicopters on standby in coordination with district administration, a Navy official said.

 

 

NDRF doubles teams to 100 with 4,700 rescuers

The National Disaster Response Force has increased the number of teams from 53 to 100 to undertake relief and rescue measures in view of the impending Cyclone Tauktae, an official said on Saturday.

Each NDRF team has a strength of a total 47 personnel and, hence, the total manpower identified for the task is 4,700 rescuers.

NDRF Director General S.N. Pradhan tweeted that these teams were being mobilised for deployment in the coastal regions of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra.

Each NDRF team is equipped with satellite phones, other communication gadgets, tree and pole cutters, inflatable boats, basic medical aid and other relief and rescue tools.

- PTI

 

Flood situation improves marginally in Ernakulam district, but downpour continues

The lull in rainfall since May 15 morning in most parts of Ernakulam district has resulted in marginal fall in water levels in flooded areas, especially in Kochi city and its immediate suburbs.

But it began to rain heavily again around afternoon.

Power outage was reported from many areas in the morning, as KSEB personnel began mending broken power lines and a few posts which got uprooted in Friday’s intense wind and rainfall and trees falling down.

The water level in reservoirs which was nearing the flood water level due to heavy downpour since May 13 marginally declined, as on Saturday morning.

 

 

Chellanam continues to reel under flooding, 250 people shifted to relief camps

The coastal village of Chellanam continues to reel under flooding as high waves continued to thrash the coast in the midst of heavy rains that started early on Friday.

Nearly 250 people from over sixty families have been shifted to four relief camps in the coastal village of Chellanam as flooding felled houses and compound walls, and hampered rescue operations as the Fort Kochi-Cherthala road went under water.

Vachakkal coast among worst affected by Kerala floods in Chellanam panchayat on May 15, 2021.

Vachakkal coast among worst affected by Kerala floods in Chellanam panchayat on May 15, 2021.

 

 

Rainfall alerts upgraded for Kerala, nine districts on red alert

A man shifts his goat to a safe place from the flooded Eriyad village in Thrissur district on May 15, 2021. The district has been witnessing heavy rain since Thursday.

A man shifts his goat to a safe place from the flooded Eriyad village in Thrissur district on May 15, 2021. The district has been witnessing heavy rain since Thursday.

 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has upgraded its rainfall alert levels for Kerala on May 15 noon, even as cyclone Tauktae is cutting a northward path over the Arabian Sea towards the Gujarat coast. Red alerts have been sounded in nine  central and northern Kerala districts on May 15 for extremely heavy rainfall. As per a 1 p.m. update from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod are on red alert. Kottayam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram are on orange alert for scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall today, as per the updated weather bulletin. Coastal districts have been experiencing heavy sea erosion prompting the district administrations to evacuate people to relief camps. — Kerala Bureau

 

 

The Indian Navy is sending a diving team with vehicles and inflatable boats to Chellanam in West Kochi for rescue and assistance in response to a request from the State government. - S. Anandan

 

Rain leaves a trail of destruction across Central Travancore districts

Heavy rains accompanied by stormy winds that has lashed the State since May 13 has left a trail of destruction across the Central Travancore districts of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta.

According to officials, the incessant rains brought down several trees, snapping power cables and damaging crops in several acres of land. However, no causalities have been reported so far.

 

 

More relief camps opened in Alappuzha

With heavy rains and sea erosion continuing to wreak havoc in different parts of Alappuzha, the district administration opened two more relief camps in Thrikkunnapuzha and Arattuppuzha. It opened two camps in Kadakkarappally and Thamarakulam earlier.

Officials said that a total of 50 people were shifted to the camps as of May 15 morning.

 

 

Battering waves damage Valiyathura pier in Thiruvananthapuram

Battering waves damaged the old pier at Valiyathura, a popular landmark in the district, on May 15.

The region has been experiencing heavy sea erosion over the past several days. Part of the pier has sagged, prompting the authorities to shut the gates to prevent people from entering the structure.

 

 

Cyclone Tauktae hits Karnataka coast

Cyclonic storm Tauktae (pronounced as Tau’Te) hit the Karnataka coast on Friday night with the region continued to witness heavy rains coupled with gusty winds since then.

The Arabian Sea has become very rough over the region with waves reaching up to 4.2mt height. Many parts prone to sea erosion witnessed further erosion along the Karnataka coast including Someshwara and Uchchila in Dakshina Kannada, Hejmady, Padubidri, Gangolli, Maravanthe, Koderi and Dombe in Udupi district. Heavy rains however did not cause any flooding in the region as yet.

 

Coast Guard rescues three stranded fishermen in Kannur

The raging sea following intense rains has worsened the accumulation of garbage off Kochi coast on Saturday.

The raging sea following intense rains has worsened the accumulation of garbage off Kochi coast on Saturday.

 

Three fishermen, who were missing after they went for fishing in the sea of Kannur were rescued by the Indian Coast guard in a swift and daring operation conducted on a Friday night in the Cyclone Tauktae ravaged sea.

Three persons —Arun (36), Francis (58) and Surendran (64) — all native of Thiruvananthapuram, were stranded in a marooned Indian fishing boat Badhriya after they left Thalassery harbour on Thursday. However, in swift action, all were rescued at 10.20 pm by Coast Guard ship Vikram.

All the rescued fisherman were provided medical emergency treatment onboard the ship.

 

PM Modi to review preparations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold an important meeting on Saturday May 15, 2021, to review preparations to deal with impending Cyclone Tauktae, government sources said.

Top officers from across government departments, including the National Disaster Management Authority, will attend the meeting, they said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said on Friday that the depression in the Arabian Sea is likely to intensify into a "very severe cyclonic storm" on May 17 and cross the Gujarat coast a day later, The weather condition has intensified into a deep depression. It is very likely to further intensify into cyclonic storm 'Tauktae' by Saturday morning and very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm by Saturday night, it had said.

 

Rains leave a trail of destruction in Kottayam

The heavy rains accompanied by stormy winds that has lashed the state since Thursday have left a trail of destruction across the Central Travancore Districts of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta.

According to officials, the incessant rains brought down several trees, snapping power cables and damaging crops in several acres of land. However, no causalities have been reported so far.

Pathanamthitta

A preliminary estimate by the Pathanamthitta district Administration suggested that as many as 144 houses collapsed either partially or fully during the summer rains this year. Of these, at least 30 houses developed damages over the last couple of days. Meanwhile, crops in over 248 hectares of land worth over Rs.5.2 crore too have been washed out completely. The continuing gush of flood waters from the high ranges is threatening to wash out the standing crops in over a vast area of the paddy fields across the Upper Kuttanad region. The unending rains have also added to the woes of the paddy farmers, already hit hard by an inordinate delay in paddy procurement.

Kottayam

The squally winds that accompanied the heavy rains has spewed widespread troubles across the backwater region of Kottayam,  prompting the authorities to open relief camps in different locations.  The low-lying areas of the Kottayam municipality and the adjoining villages including Kumarakom, Aymanaam and Arppokkara have been inundated by the runoff water from the high ranges. Several trees were uprooted across the region, leading to disruptions in road traffic and power supply. The villages on the high ranges, meanwhile, have been on their toes in view of the intense showers. The region, however, is yet to witness any major instances of landslide this time.

As per estimates by the Hydrology Sub-Division in Kottayam, the district received a total rainfall of 697.8 mm over the past 24 hours . The water level in all major rivers including the Meenachil, Pampa and Manimalayar, too have reported a sharp rise, although well within the danger mark..

 

House damaged in Kasaragod

The strong winds and heavy rains due to the low pressure formed in the southeastern Arabian Sea, damaged houses and families were evacuated at few places in Kannur and Kasaragod district. Following the heavy rains, three houses have been completely damaged at Moosodi beach at Manjeswaram in Kasaragod in the last two days. M. Abdul Majeed, a resident, here said that three houses have been severely damaged and people have been evacuated.

Six families were moved to the relative's house after the sea water deluged the area at New Mahe in Thalassery. In Puthur, two houses were partially damaged after a coconut tree fell on them. Similarly in Madayi in Kannur, eight members of a family were shifted to their relative house. Three of the family members were COVID-19 positive. While reports of tree felling, roadblocks, and electricity line damage were reported from various parts of the two districts, no major incidents or casualties have been reported so far.

 

More relief camps opened in Alappuzha

With heavy rains and sea erosion continuing to wreak havoc in different parts of Alappuzha, the district administration has opened two more relief camps in Thrikkunnapuzha and Arattuppuzha. Earlier it opened two camps in Kadakkarappally and Thamarakulam. Officials said that a total of 50 people were shifted to the camps as of Saturday morning.

Sea erosion is severe in the coastal parts of Cherthala, Ambalappuzha, and Karthikappally taluks. At least 10 houses were either destroyed or partially at Ottamassery in Kadakkarappally grama panchayat. Several families affected by the sea erosion have moved to safer places.

Strong winds that lashed Alappuzha town and other parts of the district on Friday night uprooted scores of trees. Several houses were damaged and power supply was hit in several places. "A large number of houses have been damaged after unrooted trees and branches fell over them. We are yet to ascertain the extent of damage and total loss," said a revenue official.

In Kuttanad, floodwaters entered more houses following outer bund breaches and an increase in flow of water from neigbouring districts.

A 24-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team that reached the district on Friday, has been deployed to areas affected by coastal erosion in Cherthala.

 

Kerala braces for heavy rains, red alerts in five northern districts

Cyclonic Storm “Tauktae” . Image source: twitter.com / @Indiametdept

Cyclonic Storm “Tauktae” . Image source: twitter.com / @Indiametdept

Five northern districts of Kerala should brace for extremely heavy rainfall today, Saturday, May 15, 2021, the weather update from the India Meteorological Department (IMD)  in the morning indicated. Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod are on red alert. Seven central and southern districts - Thrissur, Idukki, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta and Kollam are on orange alert for scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall. While Kerala is not in the path of the northward moving cyclone Tauktae, the weather system is likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm as it moves toward the Gujarat coast.  Relief camps have been opened in several districts to accommodate families evacuated from regions by sea erosion. Given the COVID-19 situation, COVID-19 patients among the evacuees are being transferred to COVID First Line Treatment Centres and Domiciliary Care Centres. District administrations are also carrying out antigen tests in the relief camps.

9 NDRF teams

Nine teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in various districts to tackle contingencies. The army and air force units also are on stand-by. The Coast Guard rescued three fishermen from the sea off Kannur on Friday night. Parts of the state are likely to receive isolated heavy rainfall till May 19. TAUKTAE LIKELY TO INTENSIFY INTO A VERY SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM The deep depression in the Arabian Sea had intensified into the cyclonic storm Tauktae (pronounced Tau'Te) in the early hours of Saturday. The weather system is moving northwards and lies centred over the east-central and south-east Arabian Sea about 160 km north-northwest of Aminidivi and 350 km south-southwest of Panjim and 960 km south-southeast of Veraval, Gujarat, the India Meteorological Department said. Tauktae is expected to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during the next 12 hours and into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm in the subsequent 12 hours. It is very likely to move north-northwestwards and cross the Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Naliya around May 18 morning.

 

 

125 families shifted to safer locations in Kozhikode

In the wake of intensified sea erosion threat, 125 families from various coastal areas of Kozhikode district have been relocated to safer locations.  The majority of them are now staying in the houses of their close relatives following the technical difficulties faced by the disaster management authority in opening large number of relief camps by complying with the COVID-19 protocol.    

As of now, there are three relief camps operated by the Revenue Department authorities. According to officials, 60 persons have been so far accommodated in these relief camps opened in the limits of Kozhikode and Koyilandy taluks.  

Considering the safety issues, the highest number of coastal families was shifted from Vadakara village. On Saturday, May 15, 2021 alone, nearly 300 persons from 100 families relocated themselves to safer locations following the Disaster Management Authority’s directives.  

Revenue Department officials said more than 15 families from the Kadalundi village were also shifted to the houses of their relatives. Only those who were not found suffering from any suspected COVID-19 symptoms were asked to seek the support of relatives, they said.

 
 

Pier damaged at Valiyathura

Valiyathura pier, a popular landmark in Thiruvananthapuram, damaged by battering waves on Saturday, May 15, 2021.

Valiyathura pier, a popular landmark in Thiruvananthapuram, damaged by battering waves on Saturday, May 15, 2021.

 

Battering waves have damaged the old pier at Valiyathura, a popular landmark in the district.  The region has been experiencing heavy sea erosion over the past several days. Part of the pier has sagged, prompting the authorities to shut the gates to prevent people from entering the structure. The existing concrete pier was built in 1956. No longer used for docking vessels, the pier has remained a popular destination for the public.

 

Rainfall like to continue till May 18

Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur have been put on orange alert for scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall. Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad, which are on yellow alert, can expect scattered heavy rainfall on Saturday, the IMD indicated. Rainfall is likely to continue till at least May 18 in parts of the State.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the government machinery was on high alert to tackle contingencies. Nine teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in Kollam, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Pathanamthitta.

(With inputs from our Correspondents and agencies )

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