Red alert sounded in Kerala as heavy rains wreak havoc
4 dead; NDRF, special teams being assigned to meet any eventuality
A red alert has been issued in seven districts of Kerala as heavy rains battered several parts of the state on Monday.
The Met department predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the state till August 5. The red alert has been sounded for 12 of the 14 districts on Wednesday when most parts of the state are likely to get heavy rains.
Rains wreaked havoc in various places leaving four persons dead. A pastor and his two daughters died after the car in which they were travelling, lost control and fell into a stream in Pathanamthitta district. A 60-year-old man drowned in Pampa River. In separate incidents, two persons went missing following flash floods.
Met experts said a red alert extending up to three to four days has been sounded particularly in central Kerala including Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts which have the maximum number of big reservoirs. The authorities have asked the people living in high range areas to remain alert in view of the possibility of flash floods and landslides.
The revenue authorities have been directed to set up temporary relief camps and shelters to evacuate people from flood and landslide prone areas at a short notice in the event of any calamity.
The government has declared a holiday for all educational institutions including professional colleges in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta districts on Tuesday.
Apart from the existing NDRF teams, special teams are being assigned for Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kollam, and Malappuram districts to meet any eventuality. The teams will be sent from the NDRF regional headquarters in Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan chaired a meeting with district collectors to review the rain situation in the state and to coordinate the relief and rescue activities across Kerala in view of the heavy rains.