Khaleej Times

Red alert issued in Idukki, army deployed in rain-battered Kerala

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thiruvanan­thapuram — In rain-battered Kerala, a red alert has been issued for Idukki and its adjoining districts in view of the possibilit­y of release of more water from the Idukki reservoir — the biggest arch dam in Asia.

Five columns of the Indian Army have been deployed in the state’s northern districts since Thursday night, and small bridges have been constructe­d to evacuate people stranded at various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad.

The Indian Navy has put on alert its Southern Naval Command in view of the rising water level in the Periyar river and a possible inundation of parts of Wellingdon Island surrounded by the backwaters of Kochi.

Twenty-six people have lost their lives since Wednesday in landslides and floods caused due to the heavy rains as the south-west monsoon remains vigorous over Kerala.

The Idukki district administra­tion has restricted tourists from visiting hilly areas and movement of heavy goods carriers also has been restricted.

At least 30 tourists, including foreigners stranded at the Plum Judy resort at Munnar since Wednesday as roads are blocked due to landslips, are safe and the army’s help has been sought, state tourism minister Kadakampal­ly Surendran said, adding that they would be shifted to the KTDC.

People living downstream of Periyar and Cheruthoni rivers have been warned that there is a possibilit­y of inundation of banks as torrential rain pounded the state for the second day in a row. Gates of 24 dams in the state have been opened so far due to rising water level.

Three shutters of the Idukki reservoir have already been opened. Two more shutters of the Cheruthoni dam, part of the Idukki reservoir, were lifted around 7 am IST on Friday as the water level continued to rise following continuing rains. One shutter was opened on Thursday after a gap of 26 years. The water level in Idukki at 10am stood at 2,401.34 feet against the full reservoir level (FRL) of 2,403 feet.

On Friday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reviewed the flood situation and relief works being undertaken by the army, navy, air force, coast guard and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Informing reporters that there was a need to release more water from the Idukki dam, he said, “It is essential to release water three times than what was being released now.”

Union minister Alphons Kannamthan­am said he discussed the flood situation in Kerala with Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday morning.

“The Government of India is providing all the required assistance including services of armed forces, disaster management team and other required assistance. Any other immediate assistance requested by the Government of Kerala will be provided,” he said in a Facebook post.

Col Ajai Sharma, the commandant of DSC Centre, who is overseeing relief and rescue operations, said five columns of army has been deployed in the northern districts since Thursday night. “The haphazard developmen­t along the streams has affected the natural flow of rivers, which is a challenge right now,” he said.

Small bridges have been constructe­d to evacuate stranded people in various places in Kozhikode and Wayanad areas. “The situation is under control,” Col Ajai Sharma said.

Meanwhile, state Revenue Minister E Chandrasek­haran reviewed the flood situation and the precaution­ary measures to be taken in Aluva and nearby areas in view of the possibilit­y of increase in the water level following release of more water from Idukki reservoir.

Periyar river in Aluva is already in spate following release of water from Idamalayar dam and people living in low-lying areas have been asked to be vigilant. Cochin Internatio­nal Airport Limited sources said operations at the airport had not been affected.

“The operationa­l area is intact. No cancellati­on of services so far,” an airport spokespers­on said.

According to state disaster control room sources, 241 relief camps have been opened and 15,695 people have been shifted from low-lying areas. Over 5,500 people from Wayanad district, where a red alert had been sounded on Thursday, have been shifted to relief camps, the sources said this morning.

In Ernakulam, 3,456 people have been shifted to camps after four shutters of the Idamalayar dam were opened on Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Kerala Chief Minister in the wake of heavy floods in the state, and offered all possible assistance to those affected. In Palakkad district, the flood waters have started receding on Friday as the quantity of water being released from Malampuzha dam has been reduced and Palakkad town is limping back to normal. —

 ?? PTI ?? A view of houses submerged in water following a flash flood, triggered by heavy rains in Palakkad on Thursday. —
PTI A view of houses submerged in water following a flash flood, triggered by heavy rains in Palakkad on Thursday. —
 ?? PTI ?? An elderly woman is rescued following a flash flood, triggered by heavy rains, in Palakka. —
PTI An elderly woman is rescued following a flash flood, triggered by heavy rains, in Palakka. —
 ?? —Reuters ?? Rescue personnel patrol the flooded waters after the opening of Idamalayar and Cheruthoni dam shutters on Friday.
—Reuters Rescue personnel patrol the flooded waters after the opening of Idamalayar and Cheruthoni dam shutters on Friday.

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