Kerala flood situation grim though rains ease

KOCHI: More people trapped in buildings in the inundated areas of Kerala were rescued on Friday as rains eased in the state helping evacuation efforts by the state administration and defence personnel.

The death toll in the state from rains and flood rose from August 9 has risen to 164 . Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said around 2.25 lakh people have been moved to 1568 relief camps spread in the state.

He named Ernakulam, Thrissur , Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta as the worst hit districts. Several parts of these districts on the banks of Periyar, Pampa and Chalakudy rivers still remained submerged on Friday.


The defence personnel chipped in with rescue efforts on war footing and many people were airlifted to safety in helicopters while around 150 fishing boats assisted in rescue efforts. Several associations have pooled in efforts to mobilise food and water to the relief camps.

Meanwhile, the forecast by Indian Meterological Department (IMD) has brought some relief as heavy rains have been predicted only in two districts of Ernakulam and Idukki for tomorrow. As per the forecast, the rains are expected to ease by Sunday.

The trains and public transport services remained disrupted in the state. Long route trains from the state have been diverted from Thiruvananthapuram via Tamil Nadu. Landslides have been reported from some districts

The Supreme Court has also stepped in to tackle the issue of release of water from Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala that is operated by Tamil Nadu. The court asked the national crisis management committee and the sub-committee set up by Kerala government to coordinate efforts on the dam issue to explore the possibility of reducing the water level from 142 feet to 139 feet.