Expats tense as heavy rain sinks Kerala
abu dhabi — There is no relaxing weekend for Keralites in the UAE as heavy rain has wreaked havoc in their home state in south India. Water levels continue to rise in rivers and reservoirs, leading to an unprecedented situation, where 22 dams across the state had to be opened.
Expats in the UAE are apprehensive as dozens of lives are lost, homes razed in floods and the state sinks in unprecedented rain. People like Sameer Yemmay and family are glued to news channels, soaking up every little update. The four-member family has dropped vacation plans following the incessant rain.
“My ancestral home is near ‘Triveni Sangam’ — the confluence of three rivers, Kaaliyar, Thodupuzha and Kothamangalam. All three merges to become Muvattupuzha river and it is overflowing now. I have a large family with aged mother and am continuously following up with them. We are some 30-35km from Kochi and got lots of friends there too. We all are very concerned about the safety of everyone but the situation is getting worse. We have dropped plans to celebrate Eid and Onam festivals with family and relatives,” the Abu Dhabi-based resident said.
Most fatalities were reported from Idukki district and dam reservoir there was opened for first time in 26 years. And George Abraham, who hails from the district, is very anxious as his family has gone home for vacation.
“I am all prayers. I am keeping a close watch on the dam height through Malayalam news channels. It is over 2,401 feet now. For us, people from Idukki, life is all about numbers of dam. All five shutters of the Cheruthoni dam are opened but water level is still rising. There are landslides and water has entered homes. Life has come to standstill. There is no respite in sight as forecast is for heavy rain in next three days,” Abraham said from Sharjah.
Expats from northern districts of Malappuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Wayanad are pinning hope on rescue operations by Indian Army and Navy.
Sharafudeen Kotta’s family is in Sultan Bathery town of Wayanad district.
“There are lots of landslides on the way to Thamarassery Churam. Indian Army personnel are conducting rescue operations. This started as a usual rain but in the past few days, it has turned into a never-seen disaster. I fear for worse in the coming days. I am following news round-the-clock. These are nervous days for every Malayali in the UAE.”
Abdul Latheef is from Nadapuram in Kozhikode district and is missing being home now.
“Kakkayam dam is opened for the first-time ever. I miss seeing that sight. Hopefully things will be back to normal soon,” the sales manager at a private company said.
Residents are fervently hoping against hope that pain from nature fury will ease in the coming days.
We are very concerned about the safety of everyone but the situation is getting worse. We have dropped plans to celebrate Eid and Onam festivals with family and relatives.” Sameer Yemmay,
Abu Dhabi resident
There are landslides and water has entered homes. Life has come to standstill. There is no respite in sight as forecast is for heavy rain in next three days.”
Abraham, Sharjah resident
This started as a usual rain but in the past few days, it has turned into a never-seen disaster. I fear for worse in the coming days. I am following news roundthe-clock.”
Sharafudeen Kotta, Expat from
Wayanad, Kerala