- Thursday, April 18, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
AT least six people were killed while dozens went missing on Saturday (16) as heavy rain lashed southern and central parts of the southern Indian state of Kerala causing flash floods and landslides in many parts, forcing the state government to seek assistance of the defence personnel to carry out search operations.
Several people were either injured or displaced in rain-related incidents in the state where dams in many districts are nearing their maximum capacity and small towns and villages in the hilly areas have been totally cut off from the outside world.
Many hilly areas in districts like Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta faced an experience almost similar to that during the devastating floods of 2018 and 2019 but the authorities said everything was under control and there was no need to panic. However, rescue teams of the state police and fire force could not reach the affected areas due to floods and adverse weather conditions.
“The situation is serious,” Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of India’s only Left-ruled state said, adding that latest weather forecast indicates that the situation will not deteriorate.
Officials said personnel from the three wings of the army were on their way to Koottickal and Peruvanthanam, two hilly villages in Kottayam and Idukki districts, respectively, where an overflowing river inundated houses, displacing and isolating several people.
State cooperation minister V N Vasavan, who went near the landslide-hit villages, said bodies of two women and a child were recovered while search was on to recover the body of another man. He said at least 12 people are missing from these villages.
According to a defence spokesperson, Mi-17 and Sarang helicopters were kept on standby mode to meet the requirements but they could not start operations as the weather at Kottayam is still bad.
“All the bases under Southern Air Command have been put on high alert in view of the prevalent weather situation at Kerala,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“The Indian Army has already deployed army personnel to the flood affected areas. One column consisting of One Officer, 2 JCOs and 30 other ranks of army personnel already moved to Kanjirappally, Kottayam District from Pangode Military Station…,” she said.
In a statement, Vijayan said all government agencies have been asked to take necessary steps to rescue people from the affected areas and evacuate those who live in areas prone to landslides and floods. Vijayan also asked the district collectors to open relief camps to relocate those affected.
The chief minister also said the camps should function strictly adhering to Covid-19 protocol.
In the wake of warning that the rains would continue till Tuesday (19), the state government also decided against allowing pilgrims to trek to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple located in a dense forest in Pathanamthitta district till Monday (18).
