Kerala rain fury: Centre monitoring situation; Army, Navy, IAF assist in rescue operations

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday assured that all possible support will be provided to rain-ravaged Kerala.

Image: National Disaster Response Force personnel engaged in rescue operations.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday assured that all possible support will be provided to rain-ravaged Kerala.

Stating that the Centre was continuously monitoring the situation in parts of Kerala, Shah said that National Disaster Response Force teams have already been sent to assist the rescue operations. 

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held a high-level meeting to review the rescue operation. He said that no stone will be left unturned to evacuate people stranded in areas flooded due to heavy rain in the state.

Image: Aerial visual of landslide/flood-affected areas in Kootickal, taken by Indian Navy helicopters from INS Garuda. The naval aircraft were launched to provide drinking water and relief materials, facilitated by the Kerala government.

The death toll from the rains in the state has risen to 23. A total of 15 people were missing in the Kanjirapally area. The government has announced financial assistance to the families of those who died in the rains in the state. 

Revenue Minister K Rajan said Rs 4 lakh would be provided to the kin of those who lost their lives. The minister said the money would be disbursed without any delay. 

The Army, Navy and the Indian Air Force are assisting the local administration handling the flood-like situation. Meanwhile, 11 teams of the National Disaster Response Force are already up and running on the ground.

IMD Director General Mrityunjaya Mahapatra told Asianet News that the low-pressure area in Kerala has weakened. He said that isolated heavy showers are likely in the hilly region adjoining Tamil Nadu on October 20 and 21. 

Stating that climate change was also affecting Kerala, Mohapatra said that the state urgently needed a landslide warning system.

Yellow alert has been declared in eleven districts from Thiruvananthapuram to Kozhikode today. Though there is no possibility of heavy rain, there are rain clouds over Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Palakkad and Malappuram.

The disaster management authority has warned that the situation could worsen if it continues to rain in these areas. 

A red alert has been issued for KSEB's Sholayar, Peringalkuthu, Kundala, Kallarkutty, Mattupetty and Kallar dams and the Irrigation Department's Chulliyar and Peechi dams. 

Extreme caution needs to be exercised as the water level in the reservoirs may rise. So far, 105 relief camps have been set up in the state.

kerala floods

Heavy rains lashed 11 stations in the state yesterday. Kottayam Mundakkayam received 347 mm of rain in 24 hours till 8.30 am today. 

Peermede in Idukki received 305 mm of rainfall. Kottayam, Kanjirapally, Idukki, Kulamavu, Chinnar and Thodupuzha, Ernakulam, Keerampara, Kozhikode, Kuttyadi, Pathanamthitta, Nilakkal, Perunthenaruvi and Thiruvananthapuram Ponmudi received heavy rainfall.

According to the Met Office, the torrential rains caused more rain clouds to reach the shore in less time. Meteorologists have indicated that small cloudbursts have occurred, but the IMD has not yet confirmed them.