Vigorous southwest monsoon continued to lash parts of Kerala causing schools to shut down and forcing people to leave their homes which were damaged by uprooted trees or flooded by rising river water, forcing them to take shelter in the relief camps. The Indian Meteorological Department (MeT) has issued an Orange alert in six districts --- Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragode --- for Thursday. Heavy rains have also lashed parts of Lakshadweep.
Several places including Vellarikkundu in Kasaragod district, Thalassery and Peringome in Kannur district, have received the most amount of rainfall.
Incessant heavy rainfall across the state over the last few days affected normal life as roads got flooded, water levels rose in rivers and dams, homes were damaged by uprooted trees and a furious sea displaced many in the coastal areas. On Wednesday, a red alert was sounded in Idukki.
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Many dams. including Malankara Dam in Idukki district, have been opened to release the water collected in the catchment areas. On Wednesday, shutters of Karikkayam and Ullunkal dams across river Kakkad and Maniyar dam on the Kakkattar river in Pathanamthitta district were also opened to release several hundred cumecs of water. However, the decreasing water level in a few dams has also indicated a "falling trend" in the intensity of the rainfall, as predicted by the weather department.
With several people being rendered homeless, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warned that there are possibilities of flash floods, landslides and waterlogging in low-lying areas and therefore, the public and the government agencies should be vigilant and cautious. A total of 47 camps are functioning in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Malappuram and Kasaragod districts and 879 persons have been shifted there.
The heavy rainfall since Tuesday night led to the loss of life when an autorickshaw overturned into a stream swollen with rainwater in Pathanamthitta district and the victim could not escape from underneath the vehicle. Another person, a 68-year-old man, was swept away in an overflowing river in Thamarassery taluk of Kozhikode district on Tuesday. The fire force and other rescue personnel are yet to find him.
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Meanwhile, State Health Minister Veena George held an online meeting to review the situation, a government release said. She advised the general public to avoid going near water bodies, for any reason including fishing, even after the rain subsides and directed that rescue operations be coordinated at the panchayat level. She also issued directions with regard to medical aid, electricity supply, food and other essential amenities to be provided in the relief camps.
