The district administration has opened 25 relief camps in Kollam following torrential rains and multiple landslips in the ghat section. As many as 1546 persons from 436 families are currently in various shelters including 10 in Pathanapuram. Though there has been no causality so far, many parts in the district remain submerged following the incessant downpour since Tuesday night. Roads were flooded disrupting traffic and KSEB had cut power supply for more than twenty four hours to avoid the risk of electrocution. There will be no train services in the Kollam-Shencottah route for two days. The public has been asked to stay alert in view of heavy storms forecast by the Met department in seven districts including Kollam.
Meanwhile the water level in Thenmala dam reached 115.8 meter on Wednesday and out of the three shutters, two were raised by 2.4 m and the remaining one by 1.8 m. The water level came down to 115.6 meter by Thursday morning following which all the shutters were lowered to 1.5 m. The inflow in the catchment area is reported to be strong and the authorities have initiated precautionary measures in highly-flooded Punalur town and nearby areas. Nearly 100 patients and staff of Pranavam hospital in Punalur were moved to the upper floor as the lower levels were inundated by Wednesday afternoon. The heavily-flooded Elikattur bridge in Pathanapuram was closed on Wednesday and with Achankovil river in spate, many families in the area were moved to safer zones.
The district administration has banned all vehicular traffic in Thenmala-Shencottah route of NH 744 as multiple landslips were reported from the location. Currently, only emergency services are allowed in the area and a State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) team from Tamil Nadu has been deployed to divert vehicles from Tamil Nadu. The District Collector has also issued an order to stop all quarrying work in Punalur, Kottarakara and Pathanapuram taluks. The DFOs in Thenmala, Punalur, Achankovil and deputy director of Tourism have been asked to stop all tourist activities in locations near water bodies and ghat sections. The District Collector has also issued an instruction banning all mining work in the district until further orders.
Currently 24-hour control rooms are functioning in district headquarters and all taluk offices. Public can contact the control rooms at 0474-2794002, 2794004, 9447677800 (Kollam collectorate), 0474-2742116 (Kollam taluk), 0476-2620223(Karunagappally taluk), 0474-2454623, 2453630(Kottarakara taluk), 0476-2830345(Kunnathoor taluk), 0475-2350090(Pathanapuram taluk), 0475-2222605(Punalur taluk).
