Rain intensity weakens, Kerala hopes to return to normalcy soon

Rain intensity weakens, Kerala hopes to return to normalcy soon

Thiruvananthapuram: The weather department at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) has predicted that the intensity of rain is weakening as the clouds are moving away from the state.

It said the low pressure area over Bay of Bengal, which is moving westwards, will help reduce the intensity of rain.

Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorology Department has not issued red alert for any district for Thursday.

With several parts of Kerala receiving continuous downpour, many low lying areas have been waterlogged, even as the toll in the rain-battered state has gone up to 104 so far.

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Search operations at Muthappankunnu at Kavalappara in Kerala's Malappuram district, where landslides claimed nearly 60 lives and several still trapped under the debris, have been reinstated after suspending it for a short while following heavy rain on Wednesday.

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  • 4 years ago

    Kerala might return to normalcy soon as rain clouds are seen moving away from the state

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  • 4 years ago

    Food supplies not required

    Food items are not required in the state's relief camps. The items that are required in different relief camps have been listed district wise on the website https://keralarescue.in/district_needs. Revenue and Disaster Management State Relief Commissioner & Convener, Principal Secretary, Dr V Venu advised that donors should check the site and take the needed items to the listed collection centres.

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  • 4 years ago

    Rahul Gandhi urges RBI to extend moratorium on Kerala farm loans

    Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi urged Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das for extension of moratorium on repayment of crop loans in Kerala in the wake of flood.

    He said, in 2018 Kerala witnessed the worst flood in over a century, only to be followed by fresh floods this year, which destroyed crops as well as other productive assets of farmers.

    "Also, external factors, like the sharp fall in global commodity prices of cash crops, have adversely affected the farmer's capabilities," Gandhi said.

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  • 4 years ago

    Supplyco to remain open

    Supplyco shops in the state will remain open on August 15, Independence Day, to aid relief supplies.

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  • 4 years ago

    Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja has requested all the people involved in relief and rescue operations as well as those heading back to their homes to take preventive medicines to avoid the spread of communicable diseases like leptospirosis (rat fever).

    A protocol, adhering to international standards, has been introduced to be followed for collection of samples, treatment and prevention of leptospirosis. The minister insisted that all health workers must follow the protocol.

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  • 4 years ago

    Pinarayai Vijayan reaches out to Tamil Nadu via twitter

    Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has appealed for assistance to his rain-ravaged state, where 104 people have been killed in various incidents, with the leader tweeting in Tamil to present the grim picture.

    Pinarayi tweeting in Tamil seemed to be an attempt at reaching out to the people of Tamil Nadu, as hinted by an official in his office.

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  • 4 years ago

    As water level rises in the Pamba and Achankovil rivers, Chengannur region has been put on high alert. District Collector Dr Adeela Abdulla has called for an emergency meeting.

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  • 4 years ago

    A waterlogged Kottaramattom bus station in Pala, Kottayam. Photo: Rijo Joseph

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  • 4 years ago

    The six shutters of Malankara dam have been lifted by 30cm.

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  • 4 years ago

    Search operations resume in Muthappankunnu, Kavalappara. Seven bodies recovered today.

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  • 4 years ago

    Exams postponed

    All exams shceduled by MG University and Kerala University for Friday have been postponed. New dates will be announced later.

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  • 4 years ago

    Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram after a cabinet meeting that the government was trying to provide all possible help to those affected.

    Announcing the financial assistance, Pinarayi said as per the state disaster response fund (SDRF) criteria, Rs 10,000 would be given as immediate assistance to the calamity-hit families.

    Those who have lost their homes and land would be given Rs 10 lakh, while those whose houses had been destroyed or damaged would get Rs 4 lakh, he added.

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  • 4 years ago
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  • 4 years ago
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  • 4 years ago

    Red alert in Kannur today. The IMD has already issued red alert in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts.

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  • 4 years ago

     Some areas of Ranni, which is in Pathanamthitta district, have been flooded as a tributary of the Pamba river started overflowing.

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  • 4 years ago

    Bus services on the Erattupetta-Kottayam route have been stopped as the Meenachil river breached its bank and flooded the road near Munnani and Panackappalam.

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  • 4 years ago

    The search for people missing in a landslide at Kavalappara in Malappuram district has been stopped as continuing heavy rain poses the threat of further landslips. Meanwhile, one more body was recovered on Wednesday morning here, taking the death toll here to 26. About 33 people are still missing here.

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  • 4 years ago
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  • 4 years ago

    Exams postponed

    The Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) has postponed the department level examination scheduled for Wednesday. The BPharm spot admission has also been rescheduled to another date.

    The Calicut University has postponed all exams and viva to be conducted till August 16. The Health University has also postponed all theory exams for Wednesday (August 14). The revised dates would be declared later. Para medical diploma exams to be held on Wednesday have also been postponed.

    The Kerala University of Medical Sciences has shifted its MBBS (regular/supplemtary) examinations to August 16. The Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) has also decided to conduct its 9th semester exams for BBA, LLB, BCom and LLB supplementary on another date.

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  • 4 years ago

    After a brief let-up, the rain has intensified in hilly areas of Kozhikode district.

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  • 4 years ago

    A total of 2.26 lakh people, who were displaced by the floods and landslides, have been housed in 1,239 relief camps across Kerala.

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  • 4 years ago

    With heavy rain pounding several parts of Kerala, the water level in Meenachil, Pamba, Manimala and Achankovil rivers have risen breaching the banks and inundating nearby areas.

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So far 27 bodies were recovered from the debris as per government figures. As many as 10 earth movers were deployed for the operations after landslides wiped out the hilly area on August 8 night.

While a red alert was already in place for Malappuram and Kozhikode on Wednesday, Kannur too w added to the list following heavy rains. Pathanamthitta, a central Kerala district which has been receiving very heavy rains since last night is put on high vigil, authorities said.

Rivers in spate

The water level in Meenachil, Pamba, Manimala and Achankovil rivers have risen breaching the banks and inundating nearby areas.

Fishermen have been advised not to put out to sea.

In Vizhinjam, a fisherman was drowned and three others were rescued when their fishing craft capsized.

Heavy rain pounds Kerala, several rivers in spate
With the water levels increasing and continuing to inundate many houses, most of the villagers in low-lying areas of Kuttanad have been shifted to relief camps. A scene from Pullinkunnam in Kuttanad. Photo: Arun Sridhar

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters here after a cabinet meeting that the government was trying to provide all possible help to those affected.

Announcing the financial assistance, Pinarayi said as per the state disaster response fund (SDRF) criteria, Rs 10,000 would be given as immediate assistance to the calamity-hit families.

Those who have lost their homes and land would be given Rs 10 lakh, while those whose houses had been destroyed or damaged would get Rs 4 lakh, he added.

Officials said though people have started shifting to their homes in many places, there are still 1,89,649 sheltered in 1,119 relief camps. As per a state government update, 11,286 houses have been partially damaged and 1,060 fully damaged.

Thirteen earth-movers and 500 odd rescue personnel were engaged in search operations at Puthumala in Wayanad, where another landslide had caused havoc, special officer, U V Jose, said.

Mud and boulders from the hill had washed out an entire settlement in the valley below covering it with 15 feet mud and slush.

Sniffer dogs have been pressed into service and Geographic Information System (GIS) team is expected to reach the area, Jose said.

In a touching gesture, a Latvian national, whose sister was raped and killed at Kovalam last year, has expressed solidarity with the people of the state facing the monsoon fury and made a contribution to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.

Heavy rain pounds Kerala, several rivers in spate
A man rows past a chicken coop in a flooded village near Arppookkara in Kottayam district. Photo: Gibi Sam

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was all praise for Ilze Skromane and said her act was "unparalleled."

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