Red alert across Kerala; Cochin airport shut, trains disrupted

Unceasing heavy rains battered Kerala on Wednesday, killing eight more people and taking the death toll to 47 since August 8, forcing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to seek generous public contributions to battle the worst floods in nearly a century. The Cochin international airport has been announced shut till Saturday after water gushed inside the airport area and train services remained suspended in many parts of the state.

The heaviest rains and floods since 1924 have caused massive destruction. Over 50,000 people are in relief camps and the damage to crops and properties is estimated to be over ₹8,000 crore.

Of the 14 districts, as many as 11 including Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Pathanamthitta, Kannur and Ernakulam are on red alert, an official euphemism to mean that huge devastation was expected.

At least 18 families have been stranded in Gowreesapattom here as the area remained inundated.

A joint team of police and fire service personnel is trying to rescue them, many of whom have sought refuge on the roof of two-storey buildings.

The water overflowing from Amayizhinchan canal has caused the unprecedented water logging in places like Gowreesapattom.

Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts are on orange alert, asking the authorities and people to be prepared as there was a higher likelihood of bad weather. Those reported dead on Wednesday included a couple in Malappuram who were crushed after their house crumbled. Their six-year-old child is missing.

According to weathermen, heavy rainfall accompanied by gusty winds with speed reaching 60 kmph, is expected in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode districts.

CM holds emergency meet

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Vijayan took the Independence Day salute despite rains here and urged everyone to contribute generously to overcome the challenge of the floods and its destruction.

Calling the situation alarming, he held a meeting with the state officials to review the flood-situation in the state.

Cochin airport shut

The Cochin International Airport, which is one of the three international airports in the state besides being the busiest, was on Wednesday closed till Saturday afternoon after water released from the Idukki dam flooded the area. Airport Director ACK Nair called the development "unprecedented". "Why we decided to take this step is because since last night dams like Idukki, Mullaperiyar, Idamalayar have opened their shutters. The water released reaches the Periyar river and one of its tributaries flows close to the airport and it is overflowing, sending the waters to our operational area," said Nair. He pointed out that with more rains predicted in the coming days, it was decided to close down the airport operations. "Once the water recedes, it will take us 24 hours to clean up the area. Then only flights will resume. As of now we have decided to close down the airport till 2 pm of August 18," said Nair.

Airlines including IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet have announced suspension of their operations to Kochi.

Train services disrupted

A landslide between Kuzhithurai and Eraniel stations has delayed four trains - Guruvayur-Chennai Egmore express, Kanyakumari-Mumbai CSMT express, Dibugarh-Kanyakumari Vivek Express and Gandhidham-Tirunelveli Humsafar Express, railway sources said.

A few passenger trains have been partially hit and rail traffic on Kollam-Punalur-Sengottai section has been suspended due to adverse weather conditions.

On Thiruvananthapuram-Thrissur section, trains will be delayed due to speed restrictions due to rise in water levels in rivers and lakes.

The engineering department is continuously monitoring the safety of bridges, railways said.

Sluice gates of all 33 dams in Kerala opened

In a first, sluice gates of 33 dams across Kerala have been opened, following incessant rains since late Tuesday. More rains have been forecast till Saturday. More and more people are pouring into relief camps, including those who had earlier returned to their homes in Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Wayanad districts.

The Idukki dam floodgates were reopened late on Tuesday as the water level in the Periyar river and its tributaries flowing through Ernakulam and Thrissur districts rose menacingly. The shutters of the Mullaperiyar dam were opened at 2.35 am after its water level crossed 140 feet. People living in and around the dam were evacuated late on Tuesday.

The capital district on Wednesday witnessed heavy rains, submerging several low lying areas. Officials hurriedly opened 14 relief camps. The famed tourist destination in Munnar has been closed for traffic, following flooding at the Old Munnar town. The Sabarimala temple has warned pilgrims not to reach the shrine in view of the surging river waters in the vicinity. Although special prayers were listed for Wednesday, the temple was closed to devotees as the river Pamba was in spate.

With agency inputs