Kerala expects more rain than disaster-struck 2018
Kerala government is gearing up to face the monsoon which is expected to hit the state coast by June 5, amidst its fight to contain Coronavirus. The monsoon had triggered back to back floods in 2018 and 2019 causing humongous loss to life and property in the state. With the state expected to get more rainfall than 2018, when Kerala faced the worst floods in a century, the government is taking all precautions to meet any threat.
In 2018 floods, 483 persons lost their lives and the total damage caused was to the extent of `40,000 crore.
In 2019, 121 persons lost their lives in the floods. Chief Minister Pinaray Vijayan said the government is gearing up to face the situation and water level in all major dams is being monitored regularly.
Most reservoirs are currently holding more water than these did during 2018.
Though a panel of expert environmentalists and water management experts has urged the government to reduce water level in important dams, the Kerala State Electricity Board which manages major dams has pointed out the current situation does not warrant release of water from reservoirs.
Meanwhile, for the second consecutive day, the state recorded high number of cases.
As many as 16 persons were reported Covid-19 positive on Friday. Of the infected persons five are from Wayanad, four from Malappuram, two each from Alappuzha and
Kozhikode and one each from Kollam, Palakkad and Kasargod. While seven came from abroad, three got it through local contact. At present Kerala has 80 active cases and 48,000 persons under home quarantine. Vijayan said Centre has agreed to send eight trains to Kerala to bring Keralites including students stranded in various parts of the country. Majority of students are not in a position to afford the fares of AC trains, hence, the Centre should run ordinary trains to bring them to the state, he said.
The Chief Minister said that strict restrictions will continue in containment zones while Wayanad district would receive special attention in the wake increasing number of cases being reported there.