Palakkad: It was providential escape for a couple stranded for five days on the Puthur Konar island on the Bhavani river in Attappadi on Wednesday. Mannarkkad natives Sugunan and his wife, Valsala, were stranded on the island after the waters rose and marooned the island following a heavy spell of rain in the past week.
The Fire and Rescue Services, the police and the people managed to string a line from the island to the other bank. They then extricated the couple in a Tyrolean traverse, a method in which people move across deep spots on a line without cart support. The technique needs the user to rappel parallel to the rope.
The video of the rescue went viral on social media too.
Heavy rain
With the south-west monsoon gaining strength over Kerala, heavy rain continued to lash various parts of the state. Several areas were submerged by floodwaters. In residential areas too many drains were overflowing, raising concerns of epidemic outbreak.
In Kalladikod Palakkayam area, landslide damaged two houses. Rubber trees were uprooted and mud slides were reported. Heavy rain continued in areas close to Shiruvani forest in Palakkad.
East
Heavy rain was reported from the eastern areas of Ernakulam district. Vehicular traffic was disrupted when a culvert on the Kothamangalam-Bhoothathankettu Edamalayar road collapsed. This resulted in the isolation of two tribal colonies and around 10,000 people of Vadattupara.
The hilly areas of Kozhikode, which suffered massive losses due to landslides and flash floods, were getting heavy rain. More than 40 families were shifted to relief camps in Kodancheri Thiruvambadi panchayats. Three relief camps were functional in two panchayats.