The Kerala government on Monday issued alerts to the public that shutters of certain dams will be raised, resulting in increase in water levels of rivers in south and central Kerala.
The state has reported 22 deaths in incidents related to heavy rains, including landslides and flash floods, since Saturday.
In the high range Idukki district, where a travel ban is in place due to inclement weather, District Collector Sheeba George said two persons are still missing.
Water levels continue to rise in various dams due to heavy rains in the catchment areas and the eastern hilly regions of the state.
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The water level in the Idukki reservoir, one of the highest arch dams in Asia, has risen to 2,396.96 feet Monday. The full reservoir level of Idukki dam is 2,403 feet.
As the water level at various dams including Sholayar, Pamba, Kakki and Idamalayar are rising, the state government has called a meeting which will be chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take stock of the situation.
An Orange alert has been issued for the Pamba dam and the Kakki dam will be opened before afternoon today, state health minister Veena George, who is in charge of Pathanamthitta district, has said.
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The low-lying areas of Cherickal, Poozhikadu, Mudiyoorkonam and Kurambala regions near Pandalam, along the banks of Achankovil river, have been flooded. As the water level in the Achankovil has been rising, alert has been sounded along the banks near regions of Aranmula, Kidangannur and Omalloor.
People have been shifted to various relief camps opened in Pathanamthitta district.
Meanwhile, the state government has appointed ADGP Vijay Sakhare as the nodal officer to coordinate the rescue and relief operations.
Thrissur District Collector Haritha V Kumar has asked the public residing along the banks of Chalakudi river to remain vigilant as water level may rise as Sholayar dam may open soon.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered assistance to Kerala to tackle the situation.
Twenty two bodies, 13 from Kottayam district and 9 from Idukki were recovered from various rain-hit areas while NDRF teams continued their rescue operations.
"Spoke to Kerala CM Shri @vijayanpinarayi and discussed the situation in the wake of heavy rains and landslides in Kerala. Authorities are working on the ground to assist the injured and affected," Modi tweeted. "I pray for everyone's safety and well-being," he said.
Officials said the bodies of three children buried under the slush were recovered in Idukki's Kokkayar after intense rescue efforts.
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Children, aged eight, seven and four, were found holding each other.
Kerala Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, who visited Kokkayar and Koottickal alleged that the state government failed to launch rescue operations in time in the affected areas.
At Koottickal in Kottayam district, a family of six including three girl children aged 14, 12 and 10 were killed as their house was swept away in the landslide.
Bodies of three people were recovered Saturday and the remaining were found by the rescuers today.
Many hapless families in the high range hamlet were displaced and became inmates of rehabilitation camps.
Several elderly villagers said it was for the first time in their lives they were experiencing such intense rainfall.
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(With PTI inputs)
