Due to excessive rainfall for the second consecutive day, on Friday, August 9, several parts of Kerala are underwater. Red alerts have been issued in four districts including Idukki, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kozhikode districts. According to Manorama Online, a flood warning has been issued for all districts except Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam.
As of on Friday, heavy rains have claimed 14 lives and over 22,000 people have been evacuated to 315 relief camps across the state.
The state has announced to close all educational institutions and postpone the exams. Transportation is heavily affected including the closure of the Cochin International Airport, due to waterlogging, till August 11. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the state is likely to witness excessive rainfall till August 14.
Following unabated rainfall, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday morning conducted a review meeting of the disaster management activities in the state. He sought for the army’s help and an additional 13 units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for the relief and rescue operations.
Among the worst affected places are Wayanad and Nilambur in Malappuram, as per The News Minute.
People living on banks of Iritty and Irikkur rivers in Kannur district have been asked to relocate due to the rising water levels. People living in hilly areas have also been asked to relocate as landslides may take place.
The Central Water Commission has warned the state government about the second consecutive year of floods. It said that residents should be on high alert as rivers in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargode are likely to flood.
Last year, close to 500 lives were lost due to excessive rainfall leading to floods. In July-August 2018, the state witnessed 116 per cent more rainfall than the normal and 13 of the total 14 districts were submerged underwater. In the floods, almost 5.4 million people were affected and around 1.4 million were displaced.
Also Read: Death Toll In Bihar, Assam Floods Rises To 197, 1.24 Crore People Affected Across The States
