The onset of the south-west monsoon is altering, among other things, travel plans of people. The incessant rain has brought with it a trail of destruction and havoc. Rain-induced landslips have affected vehicular traffic as boulders and slush land on several roads. Houses and roads have been washed away and people have been advised to stay cautious near water-bodies. Onmanorama assesses the travel situation of monsoon-splashed Kerala:
Kozhikode: KSRTC has curtailed services along the Thamarassery Churam, travellers have been advised to avoid this route. The Kayakkan dam shutters have been opened. Travelling in the downstream area is cautioned against. Vehicles have been diverted via the alternative Kuttiyadi road to reach Kozhikode. Traffic is disrupted after flooding at Nellamkandi, near Koduvally. Kozhikode collector UV Jose has issued a red alert as chances of flood and landslide prevail. Trip to hilly regions are prevented from 7pm to 7am. Tourists and public are advised not to enter water bodies. Vehicles should not be parked along the streams or under the tress, according to a statement issued from his office.
Kannur: Interstate road connecting Kannur, Thalaserry with Bangalore has been damaged at Maakoottam owing to landslip. Landslides have been reported at Brahmagiri and Ayyankunnu in Kannur also. Landslides have blocked two roads that pass through here– the Iritty-Makkootta inter-state highway that connects Kerala and Karnataka, and the Thamarassery-Sultan Bathery highway.
Ernakulam: The Kothamangalam-Boothathankettu road has been severely damaged, disrupting traffic. Kochi has recorded maximum rainfall as of Monday, according to the IMD.
Idukki: Shutters of the dam have been opened as water level breached a certain mark. idukki is one of the two districts most susceptible to landslides.
Wayanad: As the Thamarassery Churam connecting Kozhikode and Palchuram connecting Kannur are blocked in heavy rain and landslide, transportation from and to Wayanad has become difficult. Only Kuttiyadi Churam is open for the passage of vehicles from the district. KSRTC buses also stopped services from here on Thursday. Those buses that operated in the morning were also called back from Eengappuzha in border Kozhikode district, on account of heavy rain. Only emergency service vehicles are travelling through the Kuttiyadi Churam.
Pathanamthita: The Kurambanmoozhy area in the forest boundaries in Ranni remained inaccessible with the flooding of the causeway across the Pampa from Sunday. The water level in the Pampa, Achencoil and Manimala rivers has gone up. The Pampa and Achencoil breached the banks at many spots. The road leading to the Believers Church Medical College Hospital at Chumatra, near Thiruvalla, too remained heavily flooded. Almost all roads in the Koipram and Thottappuzhasserry panchayats have been submerged in rainwater, disrupting vehicular traffic.
Kottayam: Rail traffic is affected on the Kottayam-Thiruvananthapuram route as earth caved in and onto the track following heavy rain. Low-lying houses in tourist areas like Kumarakom are flooded.
Thrissur: The city, including Swaraj Round, is flooded with rainwater. As the drains in the Swaraj round are clogged, the rainwater from Thekkinkadu maidan is flowing directly to the road.
Landslides have also been reported in Idukki, Wayanad, and Kozhikode districts. Authorities have asked people to avoid travel during the night to hill stations. State Disaster Management Authority has issued a red alert for six districts – Kasargod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram and Thrissur as they might continue to face increased flooding and landslides.
Light to Moderate Rainfall: Kollam
Moderate to Heavy Rainfall: Pathanamthia, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Kasargod
Heavy to very Heavy (Warning sounded): Palakkad, Malapuram, Kozhikode, Waynad, and Kannur
Kerala has received 95 percent rain surplus.
Relief campus have been set up in the Kozhikode, Alappuzha, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam districts.
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