Kerala Floods: Trains, Flights Cancelled, over 26,000 Evacuated
Red alert has been issued in 9 districts in North and Central Kerala.
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It’s been a year since floods wreaked havoc in Kerala. This year too, heavy rains continue to batter the state, flooding many of its pockets.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the death toll has gone up to 22. Red alert has been issued in Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargode in North and Central Kerala.
The intensity of the rainfall is likely to lessen tomorrow but another spell of very heavy rainfall is expected 15 August onwards.
Defence Security Corps (DSC) Kannur rescued 150 people, including a woman who is nine months pregnant.
Over 26,000 people have been evacuated to safety and lodged in 315 camps across the state.
Schools and colleges have been shut in all districts except Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam.
Flight operations at Cochin International Airport have been suspended till 3 pm on Sunday. The apron area is waterlogged. Water levels in Periyar River and a canal near the airport are consistently rising, causing alarm. The Indian Navy will open the air station on INS Garuda for commercial flights.
Kannur district is also receiving heavy rainfall, leading to rising water levels in Iritty and Irikkur rivers.
Several landslides have been recorded in Wayanad, one of the worst-hit districts. Six bodies have been retrieved since the morning in a joint operation by the Army, Fire Force, NDRF and locals. Around 100 people have been evacuated and rescue operations are still underway to complete rescue efforts in the 2 km-long stretch.
Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi has tweeted saying that he is in touch with officials on ground and has spoken to the prime minister, seeking all possible assistance for the people who have been severely affected by the floods and landslides in the state. The prime minister has assured all the help needed will be provided.
People have taken to Twitter and Facebook to share posts about the flooded areas and even to find missing persons.
The Kerala rescue/relief page by the state government: https://www.keralarescue.in/ - is up-to-date with the number of relief camps in place.
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