Kumily: For a second consecutive day, heavy rain lashed parts of Kerala on Tuesday, triggering fresh landslides and adding to the woes of a state battling the worst floods in 94 years.
Unprecedented rains and flooding have left at least 40 people dead and thousands in relief camps. Many moaned that they had virtually lost all their possessions after surging waters swept away their houses.
Munnar isolated
The picturesque Munnar town in Idukki district was almost totally cut off and traffic was disrupted after two shutters of the Mattupetty dam were opened as the water level rose
Incessant rainfall also triggered landslides in Munnar. After National Highway got flooded, the district administration has asked people to avoid travelling to the hill town, a popular tourist destination. The movement of vehicles on the main road from downtown Adimali has been limited to buses. Heavy rain has flooded the houses of those working in tea estates in Old Munnar town.
More rain
The weatherman has warned of heavy rain in the state till August 18.
A red alert has been issued for Wayanad, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts till August 15. An orange alert has been issued for Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Kottayam districts. Fishermen were warned against venturing out to the sea.
Landslides
A landslide was also reported in Adyanpara near Nilambur, Malappuram. Landslides have been wreaking havoc in the area for the past few days. Considering the volatile situation, authorities may order the closure of the hydroelectric plant.
Landslides were reported at two locations close to Thamarassery in Kozhikode, forcing authorities to restrict vehicular traffic between the northern districts of Kozhikode and Wayanad.
Landslip occurred at Korangatti tribal region near Adimaly in Idukki while a farmland at Churuli near Cheruthoni was washed away following a landslide. In a fresh landslide, a large swathe of farmland was destroyed at Ponnamala near Nedumkandam on Tuesday morning.
Over 215 landslides were reported in the rain-battered state, where 444 villages were declared flood hit by the state government.
At least 20,000 houses were fully destroyed in the deluge and about 30,000 people had taken shelter in relief camps. The rain and landslides had destroyed 10,000 km of roads in the state.
Ayyappa devotees were asked not to visit the hill shrine at Sabarimala as the rain-fed Pampa River rose menacingly.
A cabinet meeting allotted Rs 1,000 crore for repairing public roads, destroyed in the heavy rain. Rs 200 crore was set apart for repairing roads in the Sabarimala region.
The government also decided to do away with annual Onam celebrations and to utilise the amount for relief measures.
The chief minister also requested government and PSU employees to donate two days' salary for the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund (CMDRF).
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar also urged everyone to contribute to the CMDRF.
Dams opened
As many as 33 dams in the state have been opened. The controlled discharge of water from dams in the state continued on Tuesday with warnings of 'heavy rain' being issued for the state. Three shutters of the Mattupetty dam near Munnar were opened as the water level touched 1599.20 metre. The full reservoir level is 1599.59 metre.
Shutters of the Banasura Sagar dam in Wayanad will be lifted to 250 cm. Authorities have issued warning to residents downstream. Several houses and farmlands have already been inundated and local people moved to shelter camps. Peechi dam shutters were opened by 12 inches. Walayar dam shutters have also been opened.
All five shutters of the Cheruthoni dam of the Idukki reservoir in Kerala were opened on Tuesday evening as heavy rain lashed the hilly district. Water level at Mullaperiyar dam touched 139 feet Tuesday, prompting the Tamil Nadu government to open the shutters. Authorities have issued warning for people living in Cheruthoni town as dam shutters are likely to be raised further.
Rapid rise in Mullaperiyar water level
Idukki district disaster management authorities had asked those residing in Munnar, Muthirappuzha, Kallarkutti and Lower Periyar regions to stay alert. Rain intensified in the catchment areas of Kakkayam dam in Kozhikode. The dam safety engineer has asked people dwelling downstream to be cautious as more water is likely to be discharged.
Acres of ginger fields owned by Keralites in Karnataka were inundateda after shutters of Beechanahalli and Nugu dams were opened on Monday.
As heavy rain continued to batter the catchment areas of Kakkayam dam in Kozhikode, both the shutters of the dam were opened by a feet Monday midnight.
All four shutters of Malampuzha dam were opened by 45 cm as water level kept rising. Alerts have been issued ahead of opening the shutters of Walayar and Chulliyar dams.
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