Kerala rain: Eight dead; holiday for schools, colleges in 10 districts tomorrow | Highlights
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Sunday said that eight people have died, an equal number were missing and 13 injured in the previous day's heavy rains which caused landslides, waterlogging, and property damage in many parts of the state.
Several parts of the state have been reeling under a flood-like situation since Saturday. Traffic has been disrupted due to waterlogging and mudslides. On the Kannur-Wayanad road, the authorities closed the Periya Churam route following a fresh mudslide.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's office, 27 houses were completely destroyed, 196 homes were partially damaged, and 5,792 people have been shifted to the 209 relief camps set up across the state.
The government will ensure assistance to the families of the deceased and those who have lost their homes and livelihoods, he further said.
The CM said that despite the reduction in rainfall since the previous day, people should be vigilant, especially in the hilly areas.
He also said that people's representatives and volunteers were actively involved in relief efforts.
Key Updates
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Kottayam bans cultural events, training sessions in educational institutions amid adverse weather
The district administration has banned all cultural events and training sessions scheduled in educational institutions across Kottayam on Monday due to adverse weather conditions.
A holiday has been declared for schools, colleges, tuition centres, anganwadis and madrasas in the district. District Collector said the holiday will also apply to nursing colleges and other training institutes.
The administration has imposed a strict ban on art and cultural programmes, meetings and celebrations in educational institutions.
The district authorities warned that strict action would be taken against institutions found violating the order.
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Flashflooding alert sounded in Pathanamthitta
Minister PC Vishnunadh urged people in Pathanamthitta to exercise extreme caution as there are chances of flash flooding in the district. The authorities would shift people from flood-prone areas to safer locations on Sunday night itself, he said.
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Traffic banned on Neryamangalam-Adimali road
The Idukki district administration has ordered the closure of the Neryamangalam-Adimali stretch of National Highway 85 due to the risk of mudslides triggered by incessant rainfall in the hill region.
District Collector advised local residents to avoid travelling through the route until further notice as continuous heavy rain has increased the possibility of landslides.
The district administration has also banned all tourism-related activities in Idukki in view of the adverse weather conditions.
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Holiday for educational institutions in Palakkad tomorrow
The district collector announced a holiday for all educational institutions, including professional colleges in Palakkad, on Monday in view of the incessant rainfall. The holiday is also applicable to all madrasas, tuition centres, coaching classes and special classes in the district, said Collector K Sudheer.
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Kakkayam dam in Kozhikode opens shutters
The district authority asked people residing close to river banks to exercise caution as the shutters of Kakkayam dam opened on Sunday.
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Relief camps in Alappuzha: Holiday for educational institutions functioning as relief camps on Monday
Alappuzha: The District Collector has announced that educational institutions functioning as relief camps will remain closed on Monday.
No classes will be conducted in schools and other educational institutions currently operating as relief camps, the Collector said. The holiday has been declared to facilitate relief and rehabilitation efforts in the district.
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Holiday for educational institutions in Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam
The Ernakulam district collector announced a holiday for all educational institutions in Muvattupuzha and Kothamangalam taluks on Monday as low-lying areas are submerged following heavy rainfall. Professional colleges will be operational. Meanwhile, no classes will be held in educational institutions where relief camps have been started.
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Holiday for educational institutions in Palakkad tomorrow
The district collector announced a holiday for all educational institutions, including professional colleges in Palakkad, on Monday in view of the incessant rainfall. The holiday is also applicable to all madrasas, tuition centres, coaching classes and special classes in the district, said Collector K Sudheer.
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Holiday for educational institutions in nine districts tomorrow
All educational institutions in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, Wayanad and Kasaragod will remain shut on Monday as the district collectors announced a holiday in view of the incessant rains. A holiday is also announced for schools and colleges in Alappuzha's Chengannur and Kuttanad taluks, where severe waterlogging is continuing since Saturday. Heavy rain is expected in all districts in Kerala on Monday as IMD announced a yellow alert.
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Red alert sounded in three dams
The Kerala State Electricity Board sounded red alert in Kallarkutty (Idukki), Lower Periyar (Idukki) and Peringalkuthu (Thrissur) dams as the water level reached dangerous mark. Kozhikode's Kuttiyadi dam is placed under orange alert.
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Tamil Nadu woman dies after being swept away in Palakkad waterfall
A tourist from Tamil Nadu died while another person was rescued after they were swept away by strong currents at the Palakkuzhi waterfall in Palakkad on Sunday.
The deceased is identified as Bhanupriya from Coimbatore.
Fire and Rescue Service personnel rescued a person named Bharat, who was part of the five-member group from Coimbatore who visited the waterfall.
Officials at the Vadakkencherry fire station said they received a call in the afternoon that a young man and a woman had been swept away at the waterfall in Kizhakkenchery.
They also said that their team rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation.
Bharat, who fell onto rocks and sustained minor injuries, was rescued using ropes, officials said.
Bhanupriya, who also fell on the rocky portion downstream, was found dead when rescuers reached her after around two hours of attempts.
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Holiday for schools in Kannur, Pathanamthitta
A holiday is announced for all educational institutions including professional colleges and tuition centres in Kannur and Pathanamthitta districts in view of the heavy rain.
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Fishermen warning sounded
The India Meterological Department restricted the fisherfolk from venturing into sea off Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep coasts on Sunday and Monday. As per the forecast, squally weather with wind speed 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely to prevail along and off these coasts.
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Nine NDRF teams deployed in Kerala, rain to subside in coming days: KSDMA official
A KSDMA official said that the intensity of the rain in Kerala is expected to subside in the coming days.
Speaking with ANI, Sekhar Lukose Kuriakose, Member Secretary of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), stated that emergency response teams are in place.
"We have experienced a strong spell of rain starting July 31 night, and yesterday also in the night we had extremely heavy rainfall recorded towards the north in the districts. The state is on high alert, and systems are in place to mitigate any events that are occurring. Rapid response teams are arranged. Emergency response teams are in place," Kuriakose told ANI.
The KSDMA official noted that the weather conditions are gradually stabilising.
"The rainfall situation is improving. Today the rain will be much less than yesterday and the day before, and it is going to continue coming down in terms of its intensity in the coming days," he said.
"If we look at the overall picture of water resources, we are probably in a deficit state. Most of our major reservoirs have less than 40% water. We have nine NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) teams available in the state. They have been deployed, pre-deployed," he added.
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Public health sector prepared to deal with rain-related issues: Health Minister Muraleedharan
Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan said that the public health sector in the state was prepared to handle any rain-related problems, and directions have been issued to send teams of health professionals to all relief camps to take care of people shifted there.
Speaking to reporters here, Muraleedharan also said that essential medicines have been stocked and health authorities in disaster-prone areas in the state have been advised to be vigilant.
He said that the Health Department was ready and keeping a close watch on the rain-related developments.
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Pinarayi Vijayan accuses UDF govt of negligence in disaster management
Leader of Opposition in the Kerala assembly, Pinarayi Vijayan, on Sunday expressed grief over the death of eight people and an equal number going missing in the state following the heavy rains a day ago and alleged negligence in disaster management on the part of the government.
Urging the government to intensify its search for those missing, the former CM, in a Facebook post, alleged that people were suffering due to the government's negligence and lack of coordination in disaster management and termed it "unacceptable".
He said that people were making serious allegations against the government of opening the dam in Ranni without prior or proper warning, leading to flooding of many areas and causing huge losses to traders as water entered their shops and damaged goods.
Due to lack of proper warning, the traders could not secure their goods, he said in the post.
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Flash floods batter businesses in Pathanamthitta's Ranni; traders say they "did not receive any compensation"
Traders in Ranni town of Pathanamthitta district are grappling with heavy financial losses after severe rainfall and flash floods caused the Pamba River to overflow, inundating shops, warehouses and commercial establishments within a matter of hours.
Business owners are assessing the extent of the damage while struggling to resume normal operations after floodwaters submerged several parts of the town.
Describing the sudden rise in water levels, a local pharmacy owner said the floodwaters entered the town so rapidly that traders had little time to protect their goods.
"Running this pharmacy medical store here. The flood has badly affected people in Ranni. The water level rose suddenly yesterday, and within one and a half hours, the river overflowed. Most traders were unable to open their shops, and many have suffered losses worth lakhs of rupees," the shop owner told ANI.
The trader also expressed disappointment over what he described as the absence of adequate compensation following previous flood disasters. -
Orange alert in all districts except Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam
The India Meteorological Department has sounded an orange alert for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod on Sunday. An orange alert indicates heavy rainfall ranging from 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm within 24 hours. Meanwhile, a yellow alert is sounded for Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts, where rainfall ranging from 64.5mm to 115.5 mm is expected within 24 hours.
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