Rainfalls have intensified all along the state since yesterday, and has claimed 84 lives within last 48 hours. Highlands are struck with landslides, and midlands are being flushed away by floodwaters. Rescue mission is on full swing, over a lakh have been moved to safe locations, but many are still awaiting the aid to reach them.
Heavy and incessant torrential rainfall has severely struck the district of Pathanamthitta in Kerala. Major centres including Aranmula and Ranni have been left waterlogged since the eve of August 15. Many families are still stranded on rooftops and high buildings, unable to be rescued.
NRDF and Navy has implemented airlifting strategies and fishing boats are put to use for the tedious rescue mission. Even then, many including aged, ailing and infants are caught amidst the flood water at locations that are too remote to ensure immediate assistance.
More than 70% of Pathanamthitta”s total area is taken away by two major rivers of the land- Pampa and Achankoil. These swell with rainwater in monsoon, and floods are at commonplace in the locale. The immense rainfall and inflow of water has pushed the district into a havoc right now, sometimes even making the rescue missions impossible.
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Aluva, one of the most significant industrial towns of the state, has also been hit hard by the floods. The locale is on the banks of river Periyar, which is ferociously overflowing since last few days. Aluva town is a major transportation hub with air, rail, road and metro routes at access, and needless to say, densely populated.
Periyar, river with the largest discharge potential in the state, has been showing huge inflow and is now vehemently flooding its banks. Reports state that the river has taken over about 7 kilometers towards both its sides.
As many as 400 students and local residents have been stranded in Kalady Sanskrit University campus since yesterday. Rescue boats are trying to approach the location at the earliest.
The hillside districts of Wayanad and Idukki are now isolated, as transport and communication facilities have been partially suspended. Transportation to Idukki has been restricted, following which the district has become distanced from all the major centres. Munnar hill station is also marked completely isolated.
Landslides have torn apart transportation in Thrissur-Palakkad route, after a portion of Kuthiran hills collapsed here. Five have lost lives in Vadakkanchery, and in Nenmara, seven deaths have been reported.
Water level is rising alarmingly in many dams including Mullaperiyar. State government have requested Tamil Nadu to limit the level to 139 feet, to which TN Chief Minister has not responded positively. Supreme Court has now interfered, seeking an immediate solution.