Kottayam: Heavy rain and floods continue to torment Kerala, triggering landslides, inundating houses and roads and displacing people across the state. Death toll from fresh onslaught of rain rose to 94. Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam, late on Thursday, told Manorama News that prime minister Narendra Modi would visit rain-ravaged Kerala on Friday.
On Thursday evening, the inclement weather forced Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) to temporarily suspend operations at Kochi airport till August 26, 2pm. Landslides were reported in Palakkad, Kozhikode and Thrissur. One column of Military Engineering Task Force(ETF) landed in Kozhikode. 12 additional teams of NDRF comprising about 540 personnel being rushed to flood-hit Kerala to help in rescue and relief operations. All educational institutions, including professional colleges and Anganwadis, in Kozhikode district will be shut Friday (Aug 17). Manorama Helpline number: 0481-3812444
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has said Mullaperiyar dam is safe and there is no need to reduce the water level. He said this in response to a letter sent by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan regarding the opening of dam shutters after the water level touched 142 feet.
In various parts of Pathanamthitta, one of the most-affected districts in the second onslaught of rain this month, hundreds of people have been stranded. Affected people from various parts of central Kerala especially, Ranni and Kozhencherry, have been calling Manorama News since morning seeking help from disaster management force and authorities concerned.
Water level in the Periyar has risen to dangerous level near Aluva railway gate, prompting Railway authorities to restrict rail traffic on the route. Rail traffic has been temporarily suspended on the Ernakulam-Chalakudy route. Many long-distance trains scheduled to start from Thiruvananthapuram have been cancelled. The Travanacore Devaswom Board, which manages the hill shrine of Sabarimala, has directed pilgrims not to visit the temple until water level in the Pamba comes down. On Thursday, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan spoke to prime minister Narendra Modi again for a second time in two days. The prime minister has assured the state of all possible help.
Check out more updates, photos and videos in the live blog.
