Thiruvananthapuram: A brief let-up in rain has eased the concerns over a 2018-like deluge in Kerala as the water level started receding slowly in several reservoirs across the state.
But waterlogging in low-lying areas claimed two more lives in Kottayam on Monday.
The shutters of the Pamba and Kakkayam dams, which were opened to release excess water, were shut on Monday as the rain eased.
The six shutters of Pamba dam in Pathanamthitta district, which were lifted by 2 feet each, were closed early on Monday as the water level came down to 982.80 metres. The shutters were lifted by Sunday noon as water level had risen to 983.5 metres.
The dam has the capacity to store 986.332 metres of water.
Anticipating a flood situation downstream due to the opening of the dam, Pathanamthitta district authorities had made elaborate arrangements to deal with any emergency by shifting people living in vulnerable areas to safety and bringing fishermen from Kollam with their boats to carry out rescue operations.
The shutters of the Kakkayam dam in Kozhikode district, lifted on Saturday when the water level hit 755.5 metres, were also closed on Monday.
2 casualties
Meanwhile, two more rain-related casualties were reported in Kerala's Kottayam district on Monday.
Perumbayikaadu natives Sudheesh and Kurien Abraham drowned in the floodwater here.
Though the rain subsided significantly on Monday, the western regions of Kottayam and Upper Kuttanad continues to be flooded.
Water has receded from Pala town following the fall in water level of the Meenachil river. KSRTC services have resumed in the Erattupetta-Kottayam route.
Public transport has however, been suspended in the Vaikom-Thalayolaparambu route due to waterlogging in Vadayar area.
Hundreds of people have been shifted to camps after Kumarakom and Kuttanad areas were affected by the floods.
Crops in hundreds of hectares in Kuttanad 'Below Sea Level Farming System', the only such one in India practising rice cultivation below sea level for the past two centuries, were destroyed due to the breach of bunds due to floods, farmers said.
No red alert today
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that Kerala is unlikely to witness extremely heavy rainfall in the coming days.
No red alert has been issued for any of the districts in the state for Monday.
An orange alert (heavy to very heavy rainfall) has been issued for Kannur, Malappuram, Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts for Monday. And a yellow alert (isolated heavy rainfall) for Kasaragod, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Kollam districts.
Though another depression was formed in the Bay of Bengal, it is heading in the northern direction and is unlikely to affect Kerala. There is no likelihood of a fresh depression forming in the Arabian Sea or Bay of Bengal in the next two weeks, according to experts.
High waves likely
However, fisherfolk have been cautioned against venturing out into the sea. Coastal dwellers have also been asked to stay alert as waves as high as 3.8mt are likely to lash the coast till 11:30pm on Monday. Boats and fishing nets should be safely kept.
25% increase in water level at dams
The state has been receiving heavy rainfall for the past few days, filling up the dams.
The KSEB reservoirs have enough water to generate 2,363.75 million units of power. The dams received enough water this month alone to generate 2363.75 million units of power.
The reservoirs have registered a 25 per cent increase in the water level. Currently, the reservoirs have 57 per cent of water.
Shutters of small reservoirs such as Peringalkuttu, Kallarkutty, lower Periyar, Ponmudi, Moozhiyar, and Erattayar were opened over the last few days.
The water level is above 50 per cent of the capacity in the main reservoirs of Idukki, Pamba, Sholayar, and Idamalayar.
Mullaperiyar dam
The water level at Mullaperiyar reservoir in Idukki district reached 136.40 feet on Monday.
The Idukki district Collector had held discussions with the Collector of Theni in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, with regard to the release of water through the tunnel to Vaigai dam when the water level touched 136-feet mark.
The Kerala government had on Saturday asked the Tamil Nadu government to release water from Mullaperiyar through the tunnel to Vaigai Dam in a phased manner when the water level reached 136 feet in view of heavy rains in Idukki.
30,473 people at 509 camps
A total of 509 relief camps have been started in Kerala amid the rising instances of natural disasters.
As many as 30,473 people of 7,765 families are staying at these camps, according to the state disaster management authority. This figure includes 4,809 children too.
Alappuzha district has the most number of people living in camps. As many as 16,307 people of 3,429 families have been put up at 51 camps.
Kottayam district has the most number of camps, 132. About 3,232 people of 990 families are staying at these camps. In Pathanamthitta district, 2,556 people of 768 families are staying at 85 camps.
The 77 camps in Wayanad district have 4,161 people of 1,204 families.
Only one camp was opened in Kollam district and has six people of two families. Thiruvananthapuram district has only two camps with 25 people of eight families.