Drinking water crisis gripped Palakkad municipality and surrounding grama panchayats on Thursday despite heavy rain. Flash flood in the Kalpathy river ruptured the main pipeline that transports drinking water from Malampuzha reservoir to the pumping station.
Kerala Water Authority has informed that drinking water would not be supplied in Kalpathy, Mattumantha, Olavakode, Vennakkara, Moothanthara, Chunnambuthara, Parakkunnam, Thirunellayi and Pirayiri regions for a week as the incessant rain would delay the repair works.
Collector’s warning
Meanwhile, District Collector D. Balamurali has warned people against consuming water drawn from sources contaminated by the continuous rain. He has instructed the Water Authority to initiate steps to supply drinking water to the needy by arranging tanker lorries.
As rain caused widespread destruction across the district, the district collector has banned all tourism activities in the district till further orders.
There would be special vigil in areas such as Malampuzha Garden, Silent Valley National Park and Nelliyampathy Hill Station. Those who use water bodies for bathing, washing, swimming and posing for selfies would be prosecuted.
The district administration has already rehabilitated over 350 families from low-lying areas of Palakkad town and surrounding areas to special camps set up in 15 different locations.
Special rehabilitation camps have also been opened n Chittur and Thathamangalam areas in view of the increasing water level in the Shokanasini river as a result of opening of shutters of Parambikulam and Aliyar dams.
With Pothundi dam reaching its maximum storage level by Thursday afternoon, alerts have been issued asking people to remain vigilant.
Extra vigil
Extra vigil is being maintained by the district administration in Kanjikode and Pudussery regions where all the waterbodies, mainly feeders of the Bharathapuzha river, in spate.
As water level in Siruvani dam reaching its maximum, alerts have been issued in Attappady.
Steps have also been taken to set up rehabilitation camps in Attappady in view of the increasing water level in the Bhavani river.
With all the four shutters of Kerala’s largest irrigation dam Malampuzha have been opened, the Bharathapuzha river’s feeders, Mukkai and Kalpathy, are in spate.
Many parts of Olavakode, Kalpathy, Chandra Nagar, Jain Medu and Kunnathoor Medu have been inundated in heavy rain.
Train services between Palakkad and Coimbatore junctions have been affected since 10 a.m. on Thursday after tracks in the ‘B’ line were submerged in rainwater at Walayar across the State border. Now, all trains are being routed through the ‘A’ line.
The catchment areas of Malampuzha reservoir have received 204 mm rain since early morning.
Landslips were reported from Kava, Parappana and Elival. No casualties have been reported.
The Nilapathy road bridge near Parali has been inundated and road traffic between Ottapalam and Palakkad remains affected.
Traffic banned
Vehicular movement has been prohibited on Palakkad-Malampuzha-Kanjikode road after Kadakkamkunnu bridge submerged in water. Road traffic has been banned in the inundated areas of Jain Medu, Andi Madom, Sekhari Puram and Sanjay Nagar.
Those who are in distress can contact the authorities through the following numbers:
Collectorate : 0491-2505309, 0491-2505566, District Emergency Operation Centre : 0491-2505209, District Collector : 0491-2505266, 9387288266, Police: 0491-2534011, 2533276, 9497996977, District Medical Office : 0491-2505264, 2505189, 9946105487.
