1296 people sheltered in relief camps
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced on Thursday that nine teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will be deployed as part of monsoon preparedness.
Currently, one team each has been stationed in the districts of Idukki, Malappuram, Kasargod, and Thrissur. By June 1, additional teams will be deployed in Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, and Wayanad districts. These teams will remain in these areas throughout the rainy season.
The Chief Minister encouraged resident associations and rural communities to form WhatsApp groups to share information about rainfall in their areas.
As of now, 1,296 people are accommodated in 59 relief camps across the state after being relocated from their homes as a safety measure due to heavy rains.
The Chief Minister has placed various department authorities on high alert due to expected heavy rains that could lead to flash floods, landslides, and waterlogging in low-lying areas. He urged residents living in unsafe houses to contact local authorities and move to safer locations.
Those out in the morning for newspaper distribution, rubber tapping, or other activities should exercise caution. At night, fallen trees may cause electricity wires to break along the roadside and in water bodies. If dangerous power lines are spotted, residents should stay away and immediately inform the nearest Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) office or call the designated emergency number 94960 10101.
The water levels in rivers have risen due to heavy rainfall. Residents are advised to be cautious while bathing in water bodies and engaging in other activities. Fishermen should refrain from venturing into the sea during warning periods.
Those living in landslide-prone areas, on riverbanks, or in regions with frequent waterlogging or other ecologically sensitive areas should be prepared to move to relatives' homes or relief camps.
Emergency Operation Centres and Taluk Emergency Operation Centres are operational around the clock in all districts. In addition to traditional warning methods, sirens and hooters will be employed as part of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority's (KSDMA) "shield" warning system to alert people during emergencies.
Steps have also been taken to deploy volunteers, including civil defense members, 'apda mitra' volunteers, and other volunteer forces, throughout the state in case of emergencies. Additionally, panchayat-level emergency response teams have been established.
