Kerala Rain Live Updates: ‘Orange alert’ in 12 districts on Sunday

The General Education Department on Saturday postponed the State Eligibility Test (SET), scheduled for August 2, as heavy rain continued to batter several parts of Kerala.

In a statement, the department said the revised examination date would be announced later and advised candidates to regularly check the official website for updates.

The department postponed the Higher Secondary Equivalency Examination scheduled for August 2 due to heavy rain and the resulting disruptions across the state.

The revised examination date would be announced later, it said. PTI

Keralam Transport Minister CP John on Saturday said that two fishermen who went missing after their boat capsized in Vizhinjam off Thiruvananthapuram's coast have returned safely. However, the search continues for two others in a separate capsizing incident at Muthalapozhi.

The State Government has requested assistance from the Indian Navy to bolster rescue operations.

"All the missing fishermen have come back, fortunately. And most of them have some injuries; they are immediately hospitalised. The Coast Guard and the Fisheries Department did their best with the help of police and other forces... But unfortunately, Muthalapozhi is a bit different. It is taking its toll, but the rescue system was very good. I congratulate all those who are involved in the rescue operations, including our collector and police officials. When we heard that many were missing, our district collector wrote a letter to the naval officials, and they were ready to come... We are waiting for all the boats and Kattumaram to come back..." The Keralam government sought the assistance of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard for emergency search and rescue operations after two people were reported missing following a boat capsize incident in the rough sea conditions at Muthalapozhi. ANI

A review meeting involving all concerned departments was held on Saturday morning to assess flood preparedness in Alappuzha, District Collector Shaji V Nair said, adding that officials of the Revenue Department and other agencies would continue monitoring the situation.

Relief camps have been kept ready in all taluks, and two camps have already been opened in the district, he said.

The collector said warnings had been issued to residents living along riverbanks and that control rooms were functioning in all taluks.

As part of the preparedness measures, a 20-member emergency response team, along with three rescue boats, had been deployed to Chengannur, where floodwaters from the eastern high ranges first enter the district.

Authorities have opened the shutters of the Thottappally spillway and barrages in Alappuzha district following heavy rain and rising river levels in neighbouring Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts, District Collector Shaji V Nair said on Saturday.

The move is aimed at facilitating the discharge of excess water into the Arabian Sea as inflows from the Pampa and Manimala rivers are expected to rise.

Floodwaters from the Pampa and Manimala rivers, which flow through flood-hit Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts, eventually drain into the low-lying Kuttanad region of Alappuzha before emptying into the Arabian Sea.

The district has the Thottappally spillway, while the barrages at Thanneermukkom and Andhakaranazhi regulate water flow and prevent seawater intrusion to facilitate agriculture.

Speaking after inspecting flood preparedness measures at the Thottappally spillway, the collector said there was no cause for concern and that all necessary arrangements had been made to ensure the smooth discharge of excess water into the sea. PTI

KSDMA member Secretary Sekhar Lukose Kuriakose on Saturday said exceptionally heavy rainfall lashed central Kerala, triggering landslides, mudslides and flooding across several districts.

Four people have died in separate landslides in Idukki and Kottayam districts, while severe flooding was reported in parts of Pathanamthitta district.

Speaking to reporters here, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) member secretary said the worst-affected belt stretched from Pathanamthitta through Kottayam to Idukki and up to the Ernakulam border.

"As of this morning, the major impact has been reported from the Pathanamthitta-Kottayam-Idukki belt extending up to the Ernakulam border. Vadasserikkara recorded about 302 mm of rainfall in less than 24 hours, while Lahai received nearly 260 mm. This was an exceptionally heavy spell of rain," he said.

Kuriakose said the heavy rainfall had triggered several mudslides and the collapse of slopes behind houses, but timely warnings had enabled many residents to move to safer places. PTI