Rain fury: Relief camps inundated as raging floods worsen residents’ plight

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The heavy rains that lashed Sunday night and Monday morning have led the water levels to rise in various parts of the state. With this, the people are in deep agony. The situation is critical in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. The heavy rains that began last night are still continuing in the eastern hilly region of Kottayam. Following this, the water level in the Meenachil River has risen.

Water has started entering many places on the Pala-Erattupetta and Pala-Ettumanoor roads. The situation is critical at the Panackapalam Bridge on the Pala-Erattupetta Road. Reports say that water has entered about three feet in some parts here. The water level in the Pampa River is rising to a large extent. The people are in fear as the heavy rains continue. Rains intensified in Thiruvalla Monday morning. Following this, houses and business establishments have been flooded. The road from Thiruvalla to Mavelikkara has been flooded in many places. Water has entered in hundreds of houses here.

Traffic was completely disrupted due to a landslide on the Malappuram Parappanangadi - Nadukani state highway. There were no vehicles or people in the area where the landslide occurred at the time, which averted a major accident. The shutters of three major dams in Idukki have been opened. The shutters of Malankara, Kallarkutty and Pambla dams are presently open.

The Pandanad relief camps in Alappuzha have also been flooded. Steps are being taken to evacuate those presently in the camps. The situation at Rannin in Pathanamthitta also continues to be bad. A relief camp has been opened in Vadasserikkara.

In the wake of the heavy rains continuing in various districts of the state, Chief Minister VD Satheesan has called an emergency meeting of district collectors. The meeting will be held online Monday morning. District collectors, home and revenue ministers and the chief secretary will attend the meeting. The meeting will mainly assess the rain damage in various districts, the functioning of relief camps, precautionary measures and coordination of rescue operations.