As the death toll climbed to 37 in rain-affected Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday undertook an aerial survey of flood-ravaged districts of the state. More than 11 out of 14 districts in the southern Indian state are under water due to incessant rains in the last three days. NDRF, Army and other forces are working on a war footing to rescue people from flood-affected areas as the overall situation remains grave.
On Saturday, Congress President Rahul Gandhi also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to release sufficient funds to the Kerala Government. Meanwhile, CM Pinarayi Vijayan has also appealed to all to contribute generously to restore life in the state. He has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of deceased and Rs 10 lakh to those who lost their property in the Floods. The CM is visiting the flood-affected areas of Idukki, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Wayanad, Kozhikode & Malappuram districts.
The centre has assured all assistance to the state government after. The South-West monsoon has been vigorous over Kerala, with heavy rains battering the southern state for the last three days. For the first time in the last 26 years, all five shutters of the Cheruthoni dam–a part of Idukki hydel reservoir system– were opened. Idukki dam is one of the largest arch dams in Asia. Besides, more than 24 dams across the state have also been opened to drain out excess water.
A total of 11,713 people have been shifted to 73 relief camps across the state. Read in MALAYALAM
Malayalam actor Dulquer Salmaan asks for donations to help and support Kerala flood victims
Meanwhile, in Telangana, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has asked officials to be alert and supervise relief measures in parts of the state which witnessed heavy rains on Saturday, PTI reported. Rao spoke to Chief Secretary S K Joshi on the situation arising out of heavy rains and suggested that special officials be appointed in districts where the impact of rains was heavy, to guide relief operations, a release from the chief minister's office said.
Here is the full text of Vijaya's post on Facebook:
Kerala is experiencing an unprecedented situation due to heavy and continuous downpour and resultant floods and natural calamity. The state mechanism is effectively engaging in the damage control. We need enormous help and liberal support from the NRI community across the globe. I appeal members and collaborators of Lokakerala Sabha and Norka Roots to extend your generous support and assistance to bring back our brethren to normalcy and the flood-ravaged areas to stability.
The state is facing an extraordinary crisis due to catastrophic natural calamities that claimed 29 lives in a span of three days. Agricultural loss alone counts to crores of rupees. Hundreds of houses were damaged. Several roads and bridges are to be reconstructed.
It will take many months to bring back people and the state to normalcy. This is the moment to rise to the occasion and to prove our commitment, humanity and compassion to the state and our people.
* Loka Kerala Sabha (LKS) is a common platform for Keralites living across the globe.
Rainfall activity over Kerala, Karnataka and Ghat areas of Tamil Nadu is likely to increase in the intensity once again during 12th-14th August in association with a fresh surge of monsoon westerlies. According to IMD data available, rain/thundershowers were observed at a few places over Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, along with some other areas.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will undertake an aerial survey of flood-hit Kerala on Sunday to take stock of the situation in the southern state, reports PTI. Tourism Minister KJ Alphons and senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs will accompany him.
As per latest updates, 11,713 people are there in 73 camps. Due to incessant rains and flood-like situation, people have been forced to take shelter in rescue camps.
At least 37 people have lost their lives in Kerala floods, as per latest update from the State Disaster Management Authority. Five people were reported to be missing.
Red Alert for Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram, Calicut till Aug 12 & Orange alert till Aug 14, reports ANI. Orange alert for Kasaragod till Aug 13, have been issued by India Meteorological Department.
Union Minister KJ Alphons told ANI that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also spoken to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on the grave situation due to floods and rains in the state. He said 11 out of 14 districts in Kerala are under water. Govt of India has sent armed forces & they have been on the ground for past 3 days & have been helping state govt administration. NDRF teams have also been sent, he said.
Red Alert has been issued for Idukki & Wayanad till Aug 14 & Orange alert till Aug 15, reports ANI. India Meteorological Department has issued Red Alert for Kannur till Aug 13 & Orange alert till Aug 15.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who is visiting the flood-affected areas of the state on Saturday announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of deceased and Rs 10 lakh to those who lost their houses and lands in the Floods.
Kochi Airport in a statement said flight operations are continuing uninterrupted and there have been no cancellations. "We surmounted a night of anxiety. All systems worked properly. Our efforts to protect the operational area succeeded. Water levels in the surrounding having stabilised, flight operations at Kochi Airport continue uninterrupted," it said.
A red alert has been issued for 8 districts-- Idukki, Wayanad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Kottayam, Alappuzha of the 14 districts in the state by the Indian Meteorological Department. Over 54,000 people have been shifted to relief camps across the state. Water level at the Idukki reservoir has decreased, providing some relief to the authorities.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi today expressed concern over the flood situation in Kerala and urged party workers in the rain-battered state to help those in need. He said the unprecedented rainfall has wrecked havoc in the southern state, destroying property and forcing thousands to abandon their houses. "Unprecedented rainfall has created havoc in Kerala, destroying property and forcing thousands to abandon their homes."
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala arrive at Wayanad.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has started his visit to the flood affected areas of Idduki, Alappuzha, Ernakulam,Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram. Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, are accompanying him.
Over 50 tourists, including from Russia, Saudi Arabia and Oman, stranded after the road to their resort at Pallivasal in the district was damaged in a landslide after heavy rains, were rescued by the Army today. Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said they were brought out safely after army personnel cut out a parallel pathway. A four-member Russian family, including two children and a couple from the USA were rescued first and they proceeded to Kumarakom in Kottayam district and Pathanamthitta district respectively. The other tourists were also brought out one by one after the road was cleared, sources said.
Meanwhile, a heartwarming video of a rescue effort has gone viral on social media. In a heroic effort that was caught on camera, a man is seen running across a bridge with a child in his arms minutes before the Cheruthoni bridge went under water. The footage by News18 Kerala was captured on camera as the fifth shutter of the Idukki dam was opened and the reservoir’s water was released into the Cheruthoni river. The police officer who ran across the bridge in the nick of time managed to save the child and is now being hailed as a hero online. The bridge is currently submerged. Read full story here.
CM Pinarayi Vijayan will visit the flood-affected areas on Saturday. He will be accompanied by Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan and Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala.
Several columns of Army have been deployed to help evacuate people, build makeshift bridges and transport relief materials.
Two columns of Army have been requisitioned for Aluva as the water from Idukki dam is expected to reach the region by 10-11 pm tonight, reports ANI.
The tourists who were stranded at the Plum Judy resort in Pallivasal near the hill station of Munnar in Idukki district have been rescued by the army, news agency PTI reported. Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said the tourists were brought out safely by Army personnel after they cut out a parallel pathway.
55 people have so far been evacuated from flood-hit areas in Kerala by the Navy in its 'Operation Madad' to assist the state government, following heavy rains and release of excess water from many dams.
-PTI
Red alert sounded in eight districts (Idukki, Wayanad, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram, Alappuzha and Kozhikode). Army has been deployed in Aluva.
The death toll in rain-related incidents in Kerala climbed to 29 as of 4 pm on Friday evening. While 25 people have died in landslides, 4 people died of drowning. Four others have been reported missing.
Palakkad -2, Ernakulam - 2, Malappuram - 6, Idukki - 12, Kozhikode - 1, Kannur - 2, Wayanad -4 are the district-wise fatality figures.
A total of 12,240 families comprising of 53,501 individuals have been shifted to 439 relief camps across the state.
Kochi based football club Kerala Blasters requested people to stay strong and safe at the time of adversity. They also shared the helpline numbers of various control rooms and asked everyone to share the information.
Former ISRO chief G Madhavan Nair said the monsoon fury in Kerala might be a part of 'global phenomena' but local factors like deforestation and 'ínvasion' of mountain slopes contributed significantly to flash floods and landslips in the state.
Speaking to PTI, the scientist said, "Also, in many parts of Europe and other places, heat wave is going on. Maybe it (rain fury in Kerala) is part of global phenomena, it is my assessment." He further said, "from one sample (the current spell), we cannot make a judgement. We have to keep a watch. But it (the heavy rainfall) is not contributed by Kerala alone. (It being part of a global phenomena cannot be discounted)."
READ MORE: Global & local factors contributed to rain fury in Kerala: Former ISRO chief
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh while speaking to media persons in New Delhi on Friday said that he will be visiting Kerala on August 12. Earlier in the day, the Union Home Minister spoke over the phone with Kerala CM Pinrayi Vijayan assuring him of all the help to tackle the ongoing situation caused due to incessant rainfall.
The union minister in a tweet said the Ministry of Home Affairs will provide all possible assistance to the Kerala government, adding, that the Centre is closely monitoring the flood situation.
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy spoke over phone to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan and assured him of all help to tackle the situation there in the wake of torrential rains. He also enquired about the situation in Kerala.
An official release stated, "The situation in Kerala causes concern and Puducherry government is concerned about the development and all help and assistance would be extended by the territorial government."
Narayanasamy also contacted officials in Mahe, an enclave of Puducherry in Kerala, and enquired about the situation there, the release said.
- PTI
Twenty-six people have lost their lives since August 8 in landslides and floods caused due to the heavy rains as the South-west monsoon remains vigorous over Kerala. (Express Photo)