‘Red alert’ issued for three Kerala districts as floodwaters recede
The IMD on Thursday issued a 'red alert' for three districts in Kerala, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds, even as floodwaters began receding in several affected areas, officials said.
The India Meteorological Department issued a 'red alert' for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts at 1 pm.
A 'red alert' denotes extremely heavy rainfall of more than 204 mm in 24 hours, while an orange alert indicates very heavy rainfall between 115 mm and 204 mm.
The IMD also issued an 'orange alert' for Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kasaragod districts.
Officials said floodwaters had begun receding in several low-lying areas of Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts.
However, flooding continued in Upper Kuttanad and Kuttanad regions of Alappuzha district, although water levels had begun to decline gradually, they said.
According to the Alappuzha district administration, 118 relief camps are functioning in the taluks of Cherthala, Ambalapuzha, Kuttanad, Karthikappally, Mavelikkara and Chengannur.
A total of 5,012 families, comprising 14,646 people, are staying in these camps, officials said.
Major roads, including the Alappuzha-Changanassery Road and the Ambalapuzha-Thiruvalla Road, remain inundated, disrupting the movement of people and goods.
In Pathanamthitta district, 10,570 people from 3,331 families are currently accommodated in 142 relief camps, officials said.
Floodwaters receded from low-lying areas of Aranmula, one of the worst-affected areas in the district.
The IMD has issued an 'orange alert' for Friday in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts.
In view of the prevailing flood situation, a holiday has been declared for educational institutions in Pathanamthitta, Wayanad, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Kasaragod districts on Friday.
In the remaining districts, holidays have been declared only for educational institutions functioning as relief camps, officials said.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority advised people against entering rivers and other water bodies for bathing, fishing or any other purpose during the heavy rains.
The authority urged the public to avoid non-essential travel during periods of intense rainfall and refrain from visiting waterfalls, reservoirs and hill stations until the weather warnings are withdrawn.
Motorists have been advised to exercise caution while travelling on roads near water bodies and on stretches undergoing repair work because of the increased risk of accidents during heavy rain.
The KSDMA cautioned people against gathering on bridges over rivers and other water bodies for sightseeing or taking selfies, and urged them to avoid night travel to hilly regions.
It warned of accidents caused by uprooted trees and damaged electricity poles due to strong winds.
The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services renewed its sea surge warning for parts of the Kerala coast, cautioning that waves of 1.1 to 1.4 metres could cause coastal inundation until 11.30 pm on Thursday.
The warning remains in effect for coastal stretches from Thiruvananthapuram to Alappuzha districts.
Fishermen and coastal residents have been advised to remain vigilant as rough sea conditions could lead to coastal erosion and seawater intrusion in vulnerable areas.
The advisory urged people living in areas prone to sea erosion or inundation to move to safer places if directed by authorities.
Small boats and country craft have been advised not to venture into the sea. Fishermen have also been cautioned against launching or bringing fishing vessels ashore when wave activity intensifies.
Kerala Revenue Minister A P Anil Kumar visited relief camps in Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts on Thursday and said the government would extend all possible assistance to people affected by the recent rains and floods.
The minister said house-cleaning assistance would be provided to all affected families irrespective of whether they stayed in relief camps, with relatives or elsewhere after floodwaters entered their homes.
He said traders whose shops were inundated would receive Rs 10,000 each to help them resume business.
The minister said the existing loan scheme for traders would be revised and financial assistance for crop loss enhanced by 25 per cent.
Anil Kumar said the Revenue Department, Local Self-Government Department and other agencies, along with elected representatives and voluntary organisations, had effectively coordinated relief and rescue operations.
He said damaged roads would be restored after an assessment of losses and the works included under the disaster relief fund.
The minister said rescue operations remained the immediate priority during a disaster, after which revenue officials would conduct a detailed assessment of the damage.
He added that elected representatives were playing a key role in identifying affected households and assessing the extent of losses.
The minister later inspected the Thottappally Spillway in Alappuzha and reviewed measures being taken to ensure the smooth discharge of floodwaters into the sea.
NATIONAL THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
