Idukki: With the onset of the northeast monsoon, Kerala has been witnessing incessant rains accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning. The India Meterological Department has warned that thunderstorm with lightning is very likely to occur at isolated places till October 28.
One shutter of Kallar dam in Idukki was raised on Wednesday morning following the rising water levels. The district administration has warned people living on river banks to excercise caution.
Kerala reported widespread damage amid heavy downpour in the state on Tuesday.
Landslide in Idukki
A landslide was reported in Idukki's Nedumkandam after Third camp in Pachadi here received heavy rain for more than 3 hours on Tuesday.
An acre of farmland was washed away at Nedumkandam following the landslide. Crops including coffee, pepper and banana were destroyed in the landslide at Vinod's farm in Pachadi. Since the landslip was reported near the 2018 landslide site that killed three members of a family, the district administration has ordered the evacuation of 25 families in the area.
Sources have reported that the Mekattukadav - Achankada road is in a dangerous state as strong torrents have eroded the soil. Traffic has resumed on Chettukuzhi-Cumbum mettu road after the removal of debris.
Meanwhile, the body of a Kallambalam native who went missing was found in the Kochukarintharuvi river. A father and a son were injured in lightning and thunderstorm in Karunapuram Third Camp on Monday.
NH flooded
The Neriyamangalam forest area along Kochi - Dhanushkodi National Highway witnessed heavy rain from 6pm on Tuesday. Water has flowed from the top of the hill to the road in huge volumes. Commuting from Walara to Neriyamangalam has became difficult due to water torrents on the road.
Water level rises in Mullaperiyar
Rainfall in the catchment area of the Mullaperiyar dam for the past few days has caused the water level to rise to 123.75 feet. 1869 cubic feet of water is flowing into the dam per second. From here, Tamil Nadu is taking 700 cubic feet of water per second. The water level in the Mullaperiyar dam, which was less than 120 feet last month, reached 123.75 feet yesterday morning.
Chavara flooded
777 people were relocated to three relief camps after the low-lying areas of Kollam's Chavara were inundated on Monday. The fire brigade rescued the families stranded in houses with the help of local residents on Tuesday night. More than 300 houses were flooded and four were destroyed. In the south, an embankment collapsed.
The downpour on Monday evening has caused severe distress in Chavara, Panmana, Tevalakkara and Chavara South grama panchayats. Traffic through interstate roads has come to a complete standstill at many places. While many people are stranded at their homes, others wer unable to return home after the holiday. MLA Sujith Vijayanpilla, District Collector N Devidas, Tehsildar P Shibu, Block Panchayat President Santhosh Thuppassery and others visited the flood affected areas.
Two relief camps were also opened in Panamana of Kollam district. 233 people from 68 families have been accommodated in the Government Upper Primary School in Panmana's Anvel and 314 people from 82 families in Shankaramangalam Government Girls High School. More than 100 houses on both sides of the KMML railway track have been flooded. Major portions of Chola, Kalari, Kannankulangara, Vadutala, Chittoor, Panmana, Mekkad, Porukkara, Mitapalli, Vadakkumthala and Natuvatucherry wards were also inundated.
