The flood situation in several parts of Alappuzha district, especially in Upper Kuttanad, remained grim on Sunday.
Water level has risen in parts of Chengannur and Kuttanad taluks after the shutters of the Kakki, Anathodu and Kochu Pampa reservoirs, part of the Sabarigiri hydroelectric project, in Pathanamthitta district were opened.
The district administration has opened four more relief camps in Chengannur taluk. A total of 1,599 people of 457 families have been shifted to 17 relief camps in the taluk.
Besides, seven centres that provide gruel have been opened for 1,308 people of 341 families in the region. Officials said one camp had been opened in Mavelikara taluk.
In all, 121 centres supplying gruel are functioning in Kuttanad taluk for 11,314 people of 2,826 families.
Several houses have been submerged and roads inundated in the fresh flash floods in the region. Two houses were destroyed and another 11 houses damaged in Chengannur taluk.
Officials said water level had receded slightly by Sunday evening.
The district is on a red alert till Monday. Earlier, the administration issued an alert in several parts of Karthikappally, Kuttanad, and Chengannur taluks after the shutters of reservoirs were opened. Authorities have urged the people living near the riverbanks to exercise caution. Round-the-clock control rooms have been opened at the 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).
Meanwhile, the district administration has roped in The Akshaya Patra Foundation (TAPF), an NGO involved in school lunch programme, to prepare and distribute food to the people at centres providing gruel in flood-hit Kuttanad. District Collector S. Suhas said a 15-member team from Akshaya Patra would distribute meals to the affected people from Monday.
Holiday
District Collector S. Suhas has declared a holiday for all educational institutions in Thalavady, Muttar, Pulinkunnu and Kainakary panchayats in Kuttanad taluk on Monday.
