Kerala floods: Death toll rises to 37, red alert sounded for 8 districts

Thiruvananthapuram: The heavy rains continued to wreak havoc across the state taking the death toll to 37 on Saturday even as chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan conducted an aerial survey of the affected districts and announced compensation for the families of the dead and those rendered homeless.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh is arriving today to take stock of the situation.

With the Met department predicting heavy to very heavy rain in the next two days, the red alert continues in eight districts - Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur.

Heavy rains are expected in Wayanad and Idukki districts till August 14. Heavy rainfall of 7 to 11 cm is most likely to occur at one or two places on August 12 and 15 and very heavy rainfall of 12 to 20 cm likely at some places on August 13 and 14.

Eight deaths were reported since Friday including two each in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha, three in Idukki and one each in Malappuram and Palakkad. According to reports reaching here, 60,622 persons are currently lodged in 513 camps. So far 101 houses have been damaged completely and 1,501 partially.

Mr Vijayan, along with Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and senior officials, conducted the aerial survey of flood-affected districts, visited relief camps and held meetings to review the gravity of the situation because of heavy rains. The team could not land in Idukki because of inclement weather.

The chief minister announced Rs 4 lakh compensation to the families of the persons who died in the floods and Rs 10 lakh to those who lost home.

The water level in Idukki reservoir receded to 2400.26 ft by 8 pm. While the hourly inflow into the dam is 479 cumecs, the outflow or spill from the dam through shutters is 750 cumecs and discharge through the penstock for power generation stood at 116 cumecs.

Officials said there was a respite from heavy rains for the moment and if this situation continues the water level in the reservoir could go further down to 2400 ft.

Energy minister M. M. Mony said KSEB would decide the lowering of shutters or regulating the outflow in consultation with other departments and elected representatives.

Aluva-Kalamassery in Ernakulam and Upper Kuttanad continued to bear the brunt as low-lying areas are water-logged.

The Union minister will also conduct an aerial tour of flood-affected Idukki and Ernakulam region.

He will arrive at Cochin airport at 12.30 pm and from 1 pm to 2.30 pm, he'll fly over Cheruthoni, Idukki Dam, adjoining areas, Thadiambad, Adimali and areas where landslides occurred recently, Aluva and Paravur taluk.

Mr Vijayan, Union tourism minister Alphons Kannanthanam, chief secretary Tom Jose and additional chief secretary P. H. Kurian will accompany Mr Singh.

The home minister will visit some of the affected areas in Paravur taluk and meet people in relief camps. He will hold a meeting with the chief minister, ministers E. Chandrasekharan, G. Sudhakaran, V. S. Sunil Kumar, M. M. Mani and Mathew T. Thomas before returning to Delhi.

Meanwhile, the chief minister has directed collectors and all agencies engaged in rescue and relief operations to maintain utmost vigil in the wake of Met department prediction of heavy rains till August 15.

The water levels in Idukki and Idamalayar dams have started receding signalling a significant relief. The rainfall in catchment areas has also reduced.

If the situation continues in this manner, people who are currently lodged in relief camps would be able to return home in next few days.

Mr Vijayan directed the education department to provide new textbooks to the children who lost books in the floods. He said the coordinated efforts made by various departments had been able to reduce the intensity and impact of the disaster.

The rescue and relief operations are continuing in a big way, and the people have set aside their problems and cooperated actively in the government operations.

The functioning of the relief camps are going on effectively, he said.

The ministers visited relief camps in eight districts on Saturday and presided over review meetings there.

Army has been deployed in Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Idukki and Aluva.

Two AN 32 are on standby at Sulur air base. Navy personnel have been deployed in Aluva and Kochi.

Army has built a temporary bridge across the Naduvath Vellambram road which was completely damaged by heavy rains. Warning for the coastal region:

The Met department has hinted at the possibility of flooding in low lying coastal areas, especially during high tide due to the perigean spring tides till August 15. Sustained strong onshore winds, high nearshore waves or swells and heavy rainfall and associated discharge can cause nuisance flooding especially at high tide times along low lying coastal areas.

Strong winds from the westerly direction, speed occasionally reaching 25 to 35 kmph gusting to 55 kmph likely along and off Karnataka, Kerala coasts and over Lakshadweep area.

Sea condition is likely to be rough to very rough over the southwest and central Arabian Sea. Fishermen are advised not to venture out here.

Higher high water will occur between noon and 3 pm and lower high water between 10 pm on Sunday to 2 am on Monday.