Rains to continue, yellow alert in 13 districts except Kasaragod, holiday in Pathanamthitta

First Published Aug 30, 2022, 5:30 AM IST

Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rains are expected to continue in the state today. Yellow alert has been announced in thirteen districts except Kasaragod. More caution should be taken in the hilly areas considering the risk of landslides. Fishing has been banned in the Kerala coast. The reason for the heavy rains is the cyclone that exists near Kerala and the Bay of Bengal. Due to continued isolated rains, the District Collector has declared a holiday in Pathanamthitta district, including for professional educational institutions. But there is no change for university exams. The shutters of Kaki Anantho Dam have been raised further

Heavy rain is continuing in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Alappuzha. Water level has risen in Meenachilat, Kottayam. 43 families have been shifted to relief camp in the district

The water level has risen in Kuttanad and Upper Kuttanad due to heavy rain in Alappuzha since night. With the arrival of water from the east, the water level has not reached a dangerous level. The water level has risen in Neeretupuram, Kavalam, Nedumudi, Champakulam Mankomp, Pallathuruthy, Veeyapuram and Pallipad areas. 4 houses in Thalavadi, Khuthichal and Puthuwal areas were flooded.

Miraculously, the girl students who were swept away by the water dam were rescued

The incident took place at Kottayam Thiko at around 3 pm yesterday. The female students of Theikoi St. Mary’s School slipped in the current while returning from school. They went down quickly in the strong current. A neighbor, a retired teacher, who saw the students being swept away, rescued them both. Both were rescued just 25 meters away from Meenachilat.

Idamalyar Dam Opened: Alert on Periyar Bank, No Entry into River

After the water level rose, the shutters of Idamalayar Dam were opened. Officials have informed Periyar that extreme caution should be exercised in case the shutters are open. The two shutters of Idamalayar Dam have been raised by fifty cm each and the water is now flowing out. 68 to 131 cumecs of water will be discharged by raising the shutters by fifty to hundred cm, taking into account the water flow and rainfall from the catchment area. The current water level in the dam is 164.05 meters. The shutters will open at 164 meters.

District Collector Renuraj informed that the people on the banks of Periyar should be cautious in case of opening of the dam. A ban has been imposed on crossing the river, fishing and tourism in the river. The District Collector also informed that bathing and washing clothes should be avoided in Periyar and its tributaries as there is a possibility of strong undercurrent.

Five people, including a child, died in the landslide that occurred in Thodupuzha Kudayathur yesterday. Soman, mother Thankamma, wife Jaya, daughter Shima and Shima’s son Devanand, a native of Kudayathur, died. The bodies were recovered following a five-hour long search. The house was destroyed in a landslide that occurred around 4 am following heavy rain. The house was completely washed away. Only the floor remains now.

Last Updated Aug 30, 2022, 7:30 AM IST