As the rain fury continued unabated in most parts of Kerala, rocked by 80 landslides and floods over the last three days, the toll climbed to 57 on even as more than 1.65 lakh people have been displaced from their homes.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit his constituency — Wayanad, which is among the worst affected, on August 11.
The Indian Meterological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for three districts on August 11 — Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a tweet that “57 lives have been lost. There are now 1,318 flood relief camps operating across the state. These camps host 1,65,519 persons from 46,400 families“.
The maximum deaths were reported from Malappuram district — 19, while 14 people lost their lives in Kozhikode and 10 in Wayanad.
Here are the latest updates:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit Wayanad
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit his flood-ravaged constituency of Wayanad on August 11, party sources said.
“Probably going to Kerala tomorrow. I don’t want to disturb the rescue missions there. I will there for two days. I have spoken to the Prime Minister, (Kerala) Chief Minister, District Collector and Congress workers of the state,” Mr. Gandhi told reporters in New Delhi. Sources said Mr. Gandhi is expected to visit Kozhikode, Wayanad and Malappuram, which are the worst-affected areas.
-PTI
Rain continues to disrupt search operations in Kozhikode
The muddy debris at Kavalappara has made it difficult for the National Disaster Response Force to proceed with the speedy search and rescue operation. Rain still continues to disrupt the search, which is now being carried out with the support of about 150 persons.
Local voluntary organisation members, police and Fire force are all part of the rescue mission. More number of earth movers have been brought to the site for speedy search. Most of the local volunteers are no using spades and shovels to remove the muddy soil and search the missing persons.
An unscientific land development activity for planting rubber saplings atop of Muthappankunnu near Kavalappara is claimed to be the main reason behind the devastating landslip in the area.
Local residents said there were strong protests on the part of many families against the unscientific land development activities. Even the top revenue officials had visited the site following public protests and found it as dangerous, they said. Sources said the claims by the local residents would be probed soon by the revenue authorities.
Search and rescue operations have been temporarily stopped at Kavalappara following a fresh incident of landslip in the area. Rescue operators have been shifted to safer locations.
Southern Railway to operate spl trains to Kerala
The Southern Railway on Saturday announced operation of special trains to and from Kerala, which is facing torrential downpour and floods, to clear stranded passengers.
However, services remained affected in the Palakkad and Trivandrum divisions for the second day, with the Southern Railway announcing cancellation of 15 trains in these routes, covering various destinations.
On Saturday, the Southern Railway announced operation of specials beteween Ernakulam-Chennai, Chennai-Kollam and Bengaluru-Kollam.
Train No 02640 Ernakulam-Chennai Egmore is scheduled to leave Ernakulam at 5 p.m on Saturday while Train No 02623 Dr MGR Chennai Central-Kollam will depart from Chennai at 8 p.m.
Train No 06526 KSR Bengaluru-Kollam passenger special is scheduled to leave from KSR Bengaluru at 8 p.m on August 10.
“Reservations for the above passenger special trains are open,” an official release said
Flight operations from Kochi airport to resume from Sunday
Cochin International Airport is scheduled to resume operations from Sunday noon, three hours earlier than scheduled as water logging in the apron and other operations areas have been cleared.
Heavy water logging from early Thursday afternoon had resulted in suspension of operations. Eight aeroplanes were stuck at the airport following the flooding of the areas in heavy rains.
Calicut University postpones exams
All the exams of Calicut University, including vivavoce, scheduled for Tuesday have been postponed. New dates will be announced later.
Train, road services affected in Shoranur and Palakkad
Train services from Shoranur and Palakkad are partly affected. Passenger trains between Shoranur and Nilambur are running. But Rajya Rani Express service has been suspended.
Malappuram town is marooned as road traffic to Kozhikode, Kottakkal, Perinthalmanna and Manjeri sides have been disrupted. The National Highway 966 linking Kozhikode and Palakkad is submerged at many places, including Kondotty and Malappuram.
A landslide took place at Karathodu near Malappuram on Saturday afternoon and blocked the road between Vengara and Malppuram. No casualty was reported.
Road traffic is disrupted between Vazhikkadavu and Nadugani, Edavanna and Areekode, Edavanna and Nilambur, Kottakkal and Tirur, Valanchery and Pattambi, Ponnani and Chmravattom, Tirunavaya and Kuttippuram, Chemmad and Thalappara, Perinthalmanna and Pulamanthol, Kolathur and Pulamanthol, Vengadu and Valanchery, Manjeri and Areekode, Manjeri and Perinthalmanna, Malappuram and Perinthalmanna, Malappuram and Manjeri, Malappuram and Kottakkal, Malappuram and Vengara, and Malappuram and Pookkottur.
81 relief camps in Palakkad
As many as 8,272 people from 2,336 families have been shifted to 81 relief camps in Palakkad district. Pattambi taluk has the most number of camps — 24. When Palakkad taluk has 10 camps, Alathur has 16, Chittur has two, Mannarkkad has 19 and Ottappalam has 10.
The inflow into Malampuzha Dam has reduced, and the authorities have withdrawn the warning issued to the people about lifting of the shutters. Executive engineer S.S. Padmakumar said that the dam’s shutters would not have to be opened today.
More than 12600 people in relief camps within Kozhikode Corporation limits. 10% of total count in state, says the Corporation.
Kozhikode opens collection centre
The District administration has opened a collection centre at the Civil station to procure essential items, including food and packaged drinking water, for the families at various relief camps. About 22000 persons are now residing at the relief camps opened by the Revenue Department. The collected materials will be distributed with the support of voluntary organisation members in about 235 camps.
Malappuram, Palakkad remain submerged
Large parts of Malappuram and Palakkad remain submerged on Saturday, even though the intensity of the rainfall has come down a bit.
Hundreds of houses along the banks of the Bharatapuzha, the Chaliyar, the Kadalundipuzha and their tributaries have been submerged and people shifted to relief camps set up by the government. Evacuation effort is in full swing across Malappuram and Palakkad.
More than 17,000 people from 4,550 families have been shifted to relief camps in Malappuram.
30 fishing boats deployed
The District administration has deployed about 30 fishing boats for emergency rescue operations in various water-logged areas in Kozhikode district. Trained fishermen too are part of the rescue teams deployed on the basis of the District Collector's directive.
Normal life was disrupted at Chalakkal en route North Kuthiyathodu in North Paravur, Ernakulam as water level continues to remain a matter of concern despite marginally dropping on August 10, 2019.
The teams are now carrying out the rescue activities covering the water-logged areas at Mavoor, Chathamangalam, Nallalam, Areekode, Kundayithode, Vengeri, Peruvayal and Poolakode. The rescue boats of the coastal police too are on the field. As of now, there are 29524 persons in about 235 relief camps in Kozhikode district. Over 7000 families have been relocated to safer locations.
Lack of earth removers hit pace of rescue operations
The lack of the required number of earth removers and other emergency equipment have hit the pace of search and rescue operations at Kavalappara in Nilambur. Voluntary organisation members from the area say the forces are mostly depending on small hand saws and cutters to clear the spot and search for the missing persons.
They also point out that the Disaster Management Authorities are yet to coordinate with the private agencies for getting more earth removers to intensify the search in the area. As the Karulayi bridge has already been submerged in rain water, the access to the location too is now difficult, they said.
Minor landslip hits Nilambur's Kavalappara
Amid the ongoing rescue operations, one more minor landslip has hit Nilambur's Kavalappara where about 46 persons went missing on Thursday night after a major landslide.
Police said the latest landslip took place about three hours ago at the spot, where search and rescue operations were in full swing for the missing persons.
However, no one sustained injuries in the latest incident.
A 20-member National Disaster Response team has managed to reach the location and coordinate the search operation for the missing persons.
A-50 member Indian Army team is also likely to reach the spot soon.
Officials said the search was resumed in the area on the basis of an unconfirmed list of about 56 persons prepared by the local volunteers. Police said the bodies of three persons had already been recovered from the spot.
Aruvikkara reservoir's shutter opened
One of the six shutters of the Aruvikkara reservoir in Thiruvananthapuram has been opened to 80 cm with heavy rain lashing the catchment areas during the last two days increasing the inflow. The shutters were raised after the water level neared the permitted water storage level of 46.6 metres.
The district authorities were alerted by the Kerala Water Authority prior to raising the shutters, following which a general alert was issued for people residing on the banks of the Karamana river.
There has also been a significant flow of water to the Peppara dam in which the water level has risen to 104.1 metres. None of the four shutters of the reservoir, which has a permitted storage level of 107.5 metres, were opened thus far.
The water level in the Neyyar dam, which has a full reservoir level of 84.75 metres, stood at 81.29 metres. All of its spillway shutters remained closed.
CM reviews situation; death toll rises to 42
The death toll in the rain-hit districts of the State has risen to 42, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday, adding that rescue operations have resumed in the landslip-hit regions in Malappuram and Wayanad districts.
Eighty landslips have occurred over the last two days in eight flood-hit districts of the State, the Chief Minister said, briefing the media after a high-level review of the situation.
''Landslips are occurring in the most unexpected places. Rescue operations are in progress in all the affected districts,'' he said.
So far, more than 1.08 lakh people (29,997 families) have been evacuated to relief camps across the State.
Rescue operations on in Vaniyampuzha
Attempts are being made to evacuate 200 families stranded at Vaniyampuzha region in Malappuram, CM said.
''They have enough food with them for the present. But the region has become inaccessible by road. We may have to air-drop food packets if the inclement weather persists and they run out of stores,'' he said.
Rescue operations have resumed at the landslip sites at Kavalappara in Malappuram and Meppadi in Wayanad. The exact number of people trapped in both places are yet to be determined, Mr. Vijayan added.
"The shutters of the Banasurasagar dam in Wayanad will be opened at 3 p.m. As it could aggravate the situation in the region, flood alerts were issued at 8 a.m.," he said.
''Water will be released at a moderate level. But the rainfall is still intense in the catchment areas of the dam,'' he said. The death toll in Wayanad district has risen to 11. As many as 24,990 people have been evacuated to 156 camps.
Power blackout in northern districts
The flood situation has caused massive power blackouts in the northern districts. So far, 15.6 lakh connections have been affected.
Nine sub-stations and four small power stations of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) are down.
Cleaning operations on in Kochi airport
As per the latest report from CIAL, the authorities have started cleaning operations as the apron water level is receding. The statement, issued at 11.05 a.m., said that ferry operations have been carried out and three of the eight stranded aircrafts have departed.
An aerial view of the inundated Cochin international airport on Friday.
Following heavy rains, flight operations from the airport had been suspended since 9 p.m. on Thursday. “If it does not rain, the situation will be better as we are draining out water and will be able to resume operations by Sunday. Till then, flights have been diverted, mostly to Thiruvananthapuram,” a spokesperson of CIAL had said.
Marginal decrease in water levels in Ernakulam dams
The water levels in various dams in Ernakulam district reduced marginally from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. today, even as the district administration stepped up efforts to move people in flood-hit regions to safer destinations.
Over 16,800 persons belonging to 4,652 families were shifted to 135 camps set up across the flood-hit regions in the district as of Saturday morning.
The water level at the Bhoothathankettu dam was 27.40 metre at 10 a.m. against the full reservoir level of 34.95 metre. All the 15 shutters remain open in view of the continuing rains.
At Malankara dam, the water level was 40.28 metre against the storage capacity of 42 metre and the six shutters have been kept open. The water level at Idamalayar dam was 145.50 metre against the full reservoir level of 169 metre. All the shutters at Idamalayar remain closed, according to the Revenue authorities.
The low-lying areas close to the Periyar River continue to face the brunt of the heavy downpour and subsequent flooding. The flood waters had inundated several such places under the North Paravur, Aluva, Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha taluks.
The Fisheries department has made arrangements to deploy fishermen for rescue operations, if required in the flood-hit regions in the district. Sixteen boats have been kept ready for rescue operations at Aluva, North Paravur, Eloor etc.
One dead
Saravanan, 45, a truck driver belonging to Dindigul in Tamil Nadu, was found in a waste dump at an industrial unit in Pathalam here on Friday night. The personnel of Fire and Rescue Services Department rushed him to the Govt. Taluk hospital at Aluva, where his death was confirmed. The body has been shifted to Govt. Medical College, Ernakulam. Police confirmed that the death was not related to the heavy rains or flooding.
Kerala State Electricity Board informed that hectic efforts were on to restore power in flood-hit regions. Kerala Water Authority has assured uninterrupted water supply to the inmates at various relief camps.
Malappuram Collector issues appeal, medical students respond
The Malappuram District administration has sought voluntary service of doctors and nurses for people housed at various relief camps in Nilambur.
There are about 21 relief camps in Nilambur taluk alone, where the landslip claimed several lives at Kavalappara.
The support of private hospitals have also been sought to care for patients and to ensure the supply of essential medicines.
Responding to the District Collector's appeal, about 20 MBBS students from Manjeri Government Medical College have already left for Nilambur. Officials said they would be able to reach the camps by evening.
Relief camp opened in Kuttanad, Alappuzha
The district administration has opened a relief camp in Kuttanad taluk in Alappuzha district on Saturday morning.
Officials said that 28 families had been shifted to the camp opened at Thalavady Government Lower Primary School. Floodwaters have entered several houses in Kuttanad following a rise in the water level in rivers. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation has stopped bus services along the inundated Alappuzha-Changanassery road. Although the intensity of the rain has come down in the district, the water level is still expected to go up further in the Pampa and other rivers in the region, following heavy downpour in recent days in neighbouring districts. People living near river banks and low lying areas have been asked to exercise caution. The district administration also opened six relief camps in Chengannur taluk and shifted 212 persons belonging to 74 families. Control rooms have been opened at district collectorate and taluk offices. Helpline numbers:
District Collectorate: 0477 2238630, 9495003640, 0477 2236837
Cherthala - 0478 2813103, 9446369209, 9747557833
Ambalapuzha - 0477 2253771, 9446061352, 9947076302
Kuttanad - 0477 2702221, 9495309730
Karthikappally - 0479 2412797, 9847927073, 9446376563
Mavelikara - 0479 2302216, 996146768
Chengannur - 0479 2452334, 7907220925, 9496739790
Fisheries Control Room - 0477-2251103, 9496007028
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has reviewed the situation in the State, and is to attend a high-level committee formed to assess the effects of the rain.
Heavy rain hampers rescue efforts in Kavalappara
Heavy rains and flooding have hit the pace of rescue operations at Kavalappara in Nilambur where about 46 people are suspected to be missing following a massive landslip on Thursday night.
A local bridge connected to the location is almost under water now, making access to the spot difficult. The search operation is yet to be resumed in full swing though forces are present at the spot.
Local people claim that there are about 19 families trapped in the incident and that around 36 houses have been washed away in the incident.
Charging woes in Kannur
Residents of Kakkad near Kannur town charge their mobile phones at a temporary facility arranged by Sunni Yuvajana Sangham
Despite heavy rain in pockets, India’s monsoon figures below average
An analysis of IMD data for the past five years shows that several areas received an 'Excess' (20-59% more rainfall than normal) or 'Large Excess' (60% or more rainfall than normal) in the same or similar period — June to the end of August first week.
However, an interesting aspect is that the all-India average for the period between June 1 (expected onset of the Southwest Monsoon) and August 7 is 5% below average. This means that though many regions received excess rainfall, several didn't, even within the same region.
Status of dams and regulators in the State
(Source: PRD)
Fake news floods social media, adds to panic
Even as Kerala was battling a flood on the ground, there has been a deluge of fake news in social media platform, aimed at spreading fear and insecurity among the people. Three major such fake news items went viral over WhatsApp and Facebook, prompting authorities to issue clarifications and warnings against the spread of misinformation.
The first such fake message on Friday claimed that all of the major dams, including the Idukki dams, have reached capacity and that the shutters are about to be opened. Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) had to come out with a clarification saying that all the dams, including Idukki, Pampa, Kakki, Sholayar, Idamalayar, Kundala and Mattupetti, have filled up only to around 30% of their full capacity. It requested people living in these regions to not fall for these rumours.
Due to heavy rains in Kerala area the following trains are cancelled/partially cancelled/Diverted
Trains cancelled
Train No.16308 Kannur – Alleppey Express of 10th August, 2019
Train No.16857 Puducherry - Mangalore Express of 10th August, 2019.
Train No. 22610 Coimbatore – Mangalore Inter City Express of 10th August, 2019.
Train No. 22609 Mangalore – Coimbatore Inter City Express of 10thAugust, 2019
Train No.56650 Kannur - Coimbatore Passenger of 10th August 2019
Train No.56600 Kozhikkode - Shoranur Passenger of 10th August 2019
Train No.56664 Kozhikkode - Thrissur Passenger of 10th August 2019
Train No.56604 Shoranur – Coimbatore Passenger of 10th August 2019
Train No.66606 Palakkad Town - Coimbatore Passenger of 10th August 2019
Train No.66611 Palakkad - Ernakulam Passenger of 10th August 2019
Train No.56323 Coimbatore - Mangalore Passenger of 10th August 2019
Train No.56603 Thrissur - Kannur Passenger of 10th August 2019
Trains partially cancelled
Train No. 16649 Mangalore – Nagercoil Parasuram Express of 10th August, 2019 is partially cancelled between Mangalore and Wadakkachery.
Train No.16605 Mangalore – Nagercoil Express of 10th August 2019 is partially cancelled between Mangalore and Thrissur.
Train No.17229 Trivandrum - Hyderabad Sabari Express of 10th August is partially cancelled between Trivandrum and Coimbatore. This trains will return as Train No. 17229 from Coimbatore to Hyderabad on 10th August, 2019.
Train No. 12081 Kannur - Trivandrum Jan Shatabdi Express of 10th August, 2019 is partially cancelled between Kannur and Shoranur.
Train No. 16159 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore Central Express which left Chennai Egmore on 09th August, 2019 is partially cancelled between Tiruchchirappalli and Mangalore.
Train No.16160 Mangalore – Chennai Egmore Express which left Mangalore on 10th August 2019 is partially cancelled Mangalore and Tiruchchirappalli. This train will return as Train No. 16160 from Thiruchchirapalli to Chennai Egmore on 10th August, 2019.
Train No. 56602 Kannur – Shoranur Passenger of 10th August, 2019 is partially cancelled between Kannur and Kozhikkode.
Train No. 56611 Palakkad – Nilambur Passenger of 10th August, 2019 is partially cancelled between Palakkad and Shoranur.
-- Chief Public Relations Officer, Southern Railways
Families shifted from flooded Kuttivayal; landslip at Kunnumkai
Several families at Kuttivayal in Cheruvathur in Kasaragod have been shifted to safer places as the area has been inundated.
Landslip at Kunnumkai in Kasaragod
The torrential rain that continues in the district caused flooding in low lying areas. Road traffic on the Bheemanadi-Neeleswaram was disrupted following landslip at Kunnumkai in the Vellarikkundu taluk on Saturday morning. This area had witnessed landslip last year as well.
UAE issues advisory against travel to Kerala due to floods
The UAE has issued a travel advisory to its citizens who are either in Kerala or intend to visit the State to exercise extreme caution in the light of heavy rains, which have caused damaging floods in many areas and killed over 25 people.
According to the UAE’s official news agency, Wam , the advisory urges the citizens to follow instructions issued by the Indian authorities in connection with the natural calamity.
“In a second advisory, the Consulate, based in the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram, has urged the UAE citizens visiting Kerala to register with the diplomatic post so that it can keep track of them and ensure their safety and welfare,” Wam said.
The Consulate has asked its nationals to contact its dedicated phone number in case of any emergency.
The heavy rains have also disrupted Eid holiday plans of thousands of Indian expatriates from Kerala due to closure of the Cochin International Airport till Sunday after floodwaters submerged parts of the runway, the Khaleej Times reported.
- PTI
Rescue operations in full swing in Kozhikode
Heavy rains continue to batter Kozhikode district on Saturday. A red alert has already been sounded and about 25,000 people from 7,100 familes have been put up in 215 relief camps. In all, 27 grama panchayats have been affected.
Rescue operation are in full swing. Teams of the Indian Navy, NDRF, Defence Security Corps and BSF are taking part in the operations.
Train services have been disrupted in Kozhikode-Shoranur sector.
Several trains have been cancelled.
List of cancelled trains
Kannur-Alappuzha Express
Puducherry-Mangaluru Express
Coimbatore-Mangaluru Intercity
Mangaluru-Coimbature Intercity
Kannur-Coimbatore Express
Kozhikode-Shoranur Passenger
Kozhikode-Thrissur passenger
Shoranur-Kozhikode passenger
Palakkad- Ernakulam passenger
Thrissur- Kannur passenger
Water to be released from Banasurasagar dam
A red alert has been sounded to those living along Banasurasagar dam. The Wayanad district administration has issued a statement that the release of water from the dam will commence at 3 p.m. on August 10 to release 8,500 litres of water per second.
The administration assured the people that while there is no need to panic, those living along the banks should remain cautious.
As a result of this, the water level in the Karamanthodu river, a tributary of Kabani, likely to rise by 10 to 15 cm.
Twitterati to the aid of travellers
Stranded travellers across the State took to cellphone-based social media platforms to hitch rides home and get travel tips after public transport systems failed them due to massive floods.
Twitter particularly came to the rescue of at least one rail passenger who got stuck in Kochi on Friday.
Joseph Thomas Pottamkulam, a businessman, had learnt to his dismay that rain had halted the train he hoped to catch to Thiruvananthapuram.
Hard-pressed to get home, he got on to twitter and sent out an appeal. “Anybody travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi today? Need a lift,” he tweeted. Soon, a Good Samaritan responded to his desperate SOS to the Twitterati and Mr. Thomas was on his way home.
Railways update:
As rain and related disasters continue, rail traffic remains disrupted in parts of Kerala. Trains via Alappuzha have commenced operation while services along Ernakulam-Kozhikode rail corridor remain affected.
Flights are operating from Thiruvananthapuram international airport as the Cochin International Airport remains shut.
46 feared killed in massive landslide near Nilambur
As many as 46 people were feared killed when they were buried alive in a massive landslide at Kavalappara, near Nilambur, in Malappuram district on Thursday night.
The depth of the disaster is yet to be assessed as none could clearly say how many people remain under the tonnes of mud and soil that covered the vast residential area on the fringes of a hillock.
Fishermen in action to support rescue teams
Responding to a request of the district-level Disaster Management Authority, fishing boat owners from Beypore and Puthiyappa have kept over 100 boats ready for emergency rescue operations in Kozhikode district.
The boats, anchored at the Beypore harbour, will be rushed to the locations on directives of the District Collector.
