Heavy rain lashes north Kerala; many low-lying areas still flooded
Heavy rain lashed parts of Kerala, with northern districts receiving the highest rainfall ending at early hours on August 4, according to the IMD.
As the rains continued, many low-lying and riverside areas of Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Kozhikode continued to be flooded, forcing people to shift to relief camps and leading to loss of valuable documents and children's school books.
State Tourism Minister P C Vishnunadh said that special adalats will be held in connection with restoration of the documents lost in the flood and the government will ensure that the kids get the required textbooks and other study materials.
He also said that currently the government has sanctioned Rs 25,000 for cleaning work in every ward and several volunteer organisations have come forward with offers of help to clean homes where water had entered.
Besides that, the CM has announced that financial assistance will be provided to those who have lost homes and livelihoods, and these will be provided without any delay.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday had issued an orange alert in 12 districts of the state for August 4 and a yellow alert in two districts.
Bayar in Kasaragod recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 121.5 mm between 3 am on August 3 and midnight, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
Muliyar, also in Kasaragod, received 81 mm, while Kannur Airport recorded 74 mm. Urumi in Kozhikode received 65 mm.
Among other places that witnessed significant rainfall, Cheruvanchery in Kannur and RARS Pilicode in Kasaragod recorded 59.5 mm each. Neryamangalam in Ernakulam received 59 mm of rain.
The IMD considers rainfall of 60 mm and above in 24 hours as heavy rainfall.
According to the latest official update, water levels in the Muvattupuzha and Thodupuzha rivers continued to remain above the warning level on Tuesday morning, though the levels were receding.
At 8 am, the water level in the Muvattupuzha river stood at 11.60 metres, above the warning level of 10.92 metres and close to the danger mark of 11.93 metres. Officials said the water level was falling.
The Thodupuzha river recorded a water level of 11.50 metres at 8 am. The warning level for the river is 10.78 metres, while the danger mark is 11.79 metres.
Meanwhile, the Kaliyar river was flowing at 12.26 metres, below its warning level of 13.10 metres and danger level of 14.10 metres.
The water levels of these rivers were also reported to be receding.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the rivers and have advised people living along the banks to remain alert as the monsoon continues to bring rain to several parts of the state.
Additionally, the water levels in some major power generation dams, Moozhiyar in Pathanamthitta, Kallarkutty, Erattayar and Lower Periyar in Idukki, Poringalkuthu in Thrissur and Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode are in the red alert state.
(With inputs from PTI)
