Kerala rain fury: Red alert sounded for 10 dams, death toll rises as rescue efforts underway
With the water level in the Idukki reservoir, one of the highest arch dams in Asia, having risen to 2,396.96 feet Monday, an orange alert has been sounded. The full reservoir level of Idukki dam is 2,403 feet.
FollowAs Kerala continues to battle the heavy rains and rising water levels, Dam Safety Authority has issued an orange alert for Idukki dam reservoir, blue alert for Idamalayar reservoir, Ernakulam district and red alert for Kakki reservoir, Pathanamthitta district.
At least 35 people have been killed in floods in God’s own country after heavy rains caused rivers to overflow, cutting off towns and villages.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday and discussed the situation. The Centre on Sunday assured the Kerala government that it would offer assistance to the state. The Kerala government has already announced that it would provide Rs 4 lakh to dependents of those deceased.
With the water level in the Idukki reservoir, one of the highest arch dams in Asia, having risen to 2,396.96 feet Monday, an orange alert has been sounded. The full reservoir level of Idukki dam is 2,403 feet.
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An orange alert has been issued for the Pamba dam and the Kakki dam will be opened before afternoon today, state health minister Veena George, who is in charge of Pathanamthitta district, has said.
The state government has convened a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take stock of the situation.
The decision to open dams will be taken by an expert committee appointed by the state, the Kerala CM informed after the meeting. The expert committee should arrive at the decision based on the water levels. People residing in areas prone to landslides and flash floods must be moved to relief camps.
Kottayam and Idukki are two of the worst affected districts in the state, as floods, triggered by heavy rains and landslides in hilly areas of several districts, wreaked havoc in the state. Fourteen deaths were reported from Kottayam district and eight from Idukki. In another incident, a child drowned in Kozhikode.
