Kerala rains LIVE UPDATES: An aerial view of flood-hit areas of Aluva in Kochi, Friday. (PTI)
Kerala Rains Highlights: The heavy downpour resulting into flooding and landslides has claimed 57 lives in Kerala, PTI reported. While twenty people have been killed in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, and nine have died in Wayanad since August 8. Over one lakh people have been moved to 988 relief camps across the state. In the worst affected Wayanad, where heavy rains still continue, at least 24,990 persons are in relief camps.
Predicting more rains across Kerala, the India Meteorological Department Friday sounded a red alert in eight districts — Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragod — and warned of “excessively heavy” rains at isolated places in these areas.
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Incessant rains over the last two days have affected train services across the state. Kochi Airport Friday said it would resume operations from 12 noon tomorrow. Over 20 trains have been cancelled, while several were diverted from its route.
Kerala rains Highlights: A red alert in sounded in four districts. (Source: Twitter/CMOKerala)
Highlights
The Centre has assured Kerala Governor P Sathasivam that it will consider providing a "liberal support" to the flood-ravaged state, even as Union minister V Muraleedharan said on Saturday that a central assistance of Rs 52.27 crore was being provided to the state. In a press release, the governor said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had informed him that the Centre would consider providing a "liberal support" to Kerala in view of the flood situation in the southern state.
The Centre's assurance came after the governor submitted a report to Shah on the damage caused by the flood and landslides, the status of the rescue operations and the present situation in the state, the release said. Sathasivam also apprised the Union home minister of the situation in the state over phone and sought more support for the relief operations in the landslide-affected areas of Malappuram and other districts. (PTI)
Train No. 19577 Tirunelveli – Jamnagar Biweekly Express train of 10.08.19
Train No. 12284 H. Nizamuddin - Ernakulam Duronto Express train of 10.08.19
Train No. 11097 Pune - Ernakulam Poorna Express train of 10.08.19
Train No. 16319 Kochuveli - Banaswadi Humsafar Express train of 10.08.19
Train No. 16306 - Kannur - Ernakulam Intercity Express of 10.08.19
Train No. 12484 - Amritsar - Kochuveli Weekly superfast Express train of 11.08.19
TrainNo. 16649 Mangalore - Nagercoil Parasuram Express train of 11.08.19
TrainNo. 16605 Mangaluru Central Nagercoil Ernad Express train of 11.08.19
Train No. 16308 Kannur - Alappuzha Executive Express train of 11.08.19
Train No. 56664 Kozhikode-Thrissur Passenger train of 11.08.19
Train No. 66611- Palakkad - Ernakulam MEMU train of 11.08.19
Train No. 16792 - Palakkad-Tirunelveli Express train of 11.08.19
(Source: Southern Railways)
Heavy downpour in Kerala has claimed at least 57 lives so far, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a tweet. The state has been rocked by 80 landslides over three days and around 1318 relief camps are in operation across the state, which host over 1.65 lakh people. The IMD issued an alert for three districts —Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod.
A before and after visual of Nilambur town which was waterlogged until this morning. Nearly 75 per cent water has receded and people are engaged in cleaning activities to bring life back to normalcy.
(Express photo by Vishnu Varma)
Nine bodies retrieved from the landslide at Kavalappara near Nilambur out of which seven are female and two males. Seven of them have been identified so far and they were brought to the district hospital in Nilambur. At least 40 people still reported to be trapped under the rubble, a senior police officer informed.
Wayanad District Collector AR Ajayakumar in a statement to ANI, said, "The situation is totally under control at present, there is no need to panic. Apart from a major landslide reported in Puthumala near Meppadi, no other such major incident has been reported." Meanwhile, IAF helicopters continue rescue operations in the flood-affected areas of Malappuram.
Around 75% water has receded from Nilambur town which was completely submerged water till today morning. People are engaged in cleaning slush and mud from their shops and homes. Bus transport to Nilambur is completely suspended and only trains are operating. Nilambur town is 30 km away from the major landslide site of Kavalappara.
(Express photos by Vishnu Varma)
CIAL has decided to resume operations ahead of schedule from 12 pm tomorrow as recovery works were found effective and the runway is intact with no marks or tears. The operations earlier were scheduled to resume at 3 pm tomorrow but in a review meeting which was conducted today at 2 pm, the officials inferred after thorough inspection that the airport is operational. Recovery operations in the T3 apron which is the most affected area, the partially affected T1 apron and that of a 100-meter portion of the southern Perimeter security wall which collapsed already began yesterday. Out of the stranded 8 aircraft, 6 were pushed back on the runway by using one taxiway link between 10 am and 12 noon today. All the 24 airlines have been briefed to facilitate services from tomorrow on schedule.
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan had tweeted informing that Banasurasagar dam's shutter would be opened at 3 pm today and said, "No one should panic. Residents on both sides of the Karaman Canal must be on guard. Steps have been taken to resettle those who live on the banks of the canal. And for those who have not yet moved, must resettle soon."
The Southern Railway on Saturday announced operation of special trains to and from Kerala, which is facing torrential downpour and floods, to clear stranded passengers. However, services remained affected in the Palakkad and Trivandrum divisions for the second day, with the Southern Railway announcing cancellation of 15 trains in these routes, covering various destinations. On Saturday, the Southern Railway announced the operation of specials between Ernakulam-Chennai, Chennai-Kollam and Bengaluru-Kollam. (PTI)
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a Red alert for 8 districts and Orange alert for 6 districts of the state for today. A Red alert has been issued for 3 districts and Orange alert for 6 districts for tomorrow.
(Express photos by Vishnu Varma)
Operations at the Cochin International Airport to resume at 12 noon tomorrow.
Southwest monsoon has been vigorous over Kerala for the past four days. A decrease in intensity of rainfall is expected over Kerala for the next five days from today. A fresh Low-Pressure Area is likely to form over northwest Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood around August 12, 2019.
Rahul Gandhi would be visiting his parliamentary constituency Wayanad in Kerala, which is currently ravaged by heavy rains.
Train services have also been disrupted due to flooding and trees falling on rail tracks. Southern Railways has cancelled several trains, including the Kannur-Alapuzha Express, on Saturday. Many trains have been partially cancelled with routes cut short to avoid the flooded areas. Mangaluru–Nagercoil Parasuram Express has been cancelled between Mangaluru and Wadakkanchery, Mangaluru–Nagercoil Ernad Express has been cancelled between Mangaluru and Thrisur, Thiruvananthapuram–Hyderabad Sabari Express has been cancelled between Thiruvananthapuram and Coimbatore. The Kannur–Thiruvananthapuram Jan Shatabdi Express has been cancelled between Kannur and Shoranur.
Besides Wayanad, the continuous rains have triggered multiple landslides and overflowing rivers have caused flooding in several parts of Malappuram, Kannur and Idukki in north and central Kerala. Several areas in Thrissur and Kannur districts are waterlogged with many having been moved to relief camps. The deluge continues in the state even as it grapples to fully recover from the extensive damage caused by the floods of August, 2018 that claimed over 400 lives and left lakhs of people homeless.
Wayanad Sub Collector N S K Umesh, "The area is dangerous. What we understand is that 15 people are still missing," he said, adding search operations by Army and National Disaster Response Force personnel are underway. With water levels rising, there is a possibility of opening the shutters of Banasurasagar dam, officials have indicated. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said on Friday that the dam could be opened any time. The district administration is likely to take a decision in this regard after reviewing the situation this morning.