Floods return to Kerala with vengeance, more than 23,000 in relief camps

Last year during this time, I was back home in Kerala. I saw the floods unfold and there was a sense of calm as I was on ground with my parents. This was even though we got caught amidst the rising waters at Ranni in Pathanamthitta district. This year, as I sit miles away, there’s a sense of foreboding and disquietude within.

This year too many of us didn’t think the state would flood and we thought that last year was an anomaly. This is despite heavy rains in north Kerala. But alongside that there was news that there has been 71% deficit rainfall in the state. So, in wanting to believe the hopeful news, one forgot to factor in climate change and the reality that last year’s floods could turn into an annual affair in the state.

The South West Monsoon had been gaining strength in the state since July 18, and now there have been incessant rainfall in the state for more than 36 hours. The north of the state has been battered more than the southern districts. Nine districts in Kerala —Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod — have been put on alert.

The state has put the official death toll at 23 and more than 23,000 citizens have been moved to 315 relief camps across the state. There have been more than 24 landslides in the state so far. As a result of the water-logging, the Cochin International Airport has been closed till Sunday. However, there are reports that the Indian Navy has opened the naval air station INS Garuda for civil flights due to non-availability of Cochin International Airport.

Trains through Alappuzha have been cancelled and some of the trains have been diverted to Kottayam. In several of the places, fishermen have been called to help evacuate people.

“A 24-hour control room has been set up at the State Police headquarters to assist those affected by the rains. You can reach the emergency response centre by calling 112,” said Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala CM. He had also asked people not to panic.

“Kerala State Electricity Board reservoirs have recorded a total storage increase of 7% from Thursday, August 8, and now have reached 34% of their total capacity. Idukki dam is at 30% of its total capacity, Idamalayar 37%, Kakki 28%, Sholayar 39% and Banasurasagar at 74%. The level in Mullaperiyar dam has increased to 124 ft from 116 ft on August 8, Thursday. If present rate of inflow prevails, the dam will spill in 3 days,” explained James Wilson, Special Officer with the Kerala government and an expert on dam safety.

In Kerala, KSEB controls 31 dams, 20 are manned by the irrigation department, one by the water authority and four dams ( Mullaperiyar, Parambikulam, Thunacadavu and Peruvaripallam) are controlled by Tamil Nadu.

The Banasurasagar dam will be opened when the water level reaches 773.9 mts. “Now the water level in Banasurasagar is at 771.2m and the storage is at 75%,” said sources.

“The rain has reduced in the upper levels of Mullaperiyar and there seems to a relief in the central and southern parts of the state. We are unlikely to open several of these dams as most of them are only at 30%,” underscored Wilson.

In Kerala, 12 dams and barrages have been opened. On Periyar river, Pambla dam (Idukki), Kallarkutty dam (Idukki) Boothathankettu dam (Ernakulam) and Kallar diversion have been opened. On Pamba river, the Maniyar barrage (Pathanamthitta), on Muvattupuzha, Malankara dam (Thoduppuzha, Idukki), on Chalakudy river, Poringalkuthu dam (Thrissur) and Tunacadavu dam (Palakkad). “On Bharatapuzha, Kajirapuzha dam and Wayalar dam have been opened, on Cherukunnapuzha, Mangalam dam (Palakkad) has been opened and on Kuttiyadi river, Kuttiyadi dam and Peruvannamuzhi dam have been opened too,” said Wilson.

“Most of these are small reservoirs and barrage structures, which spillover every monsoon season,” added Wilson.

Landslides

In the landslide in Meppadi Puthumala in Wayanad district, 40 people are suspected to be trapped and only three have been rescued so far. NDRF personnel have rescued 54 people from the area. Nine of those who were rescued on Thursday night, are undergoing treatment at the DM Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences (WIMS) in Meppadi.

Initially, it was only a small landslide. A hill collapsed on a temple, mosque and staff quarters of the plantation workers, said eyewitnesses. With the heavy rainfall, people realised the situation would worsen and according to a news report in The News Minute, a local resident Shaji realised it was going to worsen. He along with a few others turned Puthumala Government Lower Primary School into a relief camp by Thursday. Wayanad, has been receiving the highest rainfall among other districts and as a result, more than 16,000 people have been sheltered in 126 relief camps in the district.

Additionally, at Kavalappara in Malappuram district, a major landslide is said to have destroyed more than 30 homes and several are feared to be dead. An NDRF team is on its way there. Palakkad district has been one of the worst hit and the district town has been completely submerged.

In the south of Kerala, the water levels in River Pampa, which flows through most of Pathanamthitta district, have been rising. In Ranni, which had seen devastation last year, if it continues to rain incessantly, it would wreak havoc. The Central Water Commission has cautioned that rivers in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam are likely to flood too.

This is a developing story