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Rain, landslides kill 83 in Kerala, Karnataka
At least 235,000 people have been evacuated, and 44,013 cattle have been rescued in Karnataka, where the swollen Netravati river has inundated Pane Mangaluru village in Dakshina Kannada
Three days of incessant rain and 80 landslides reported in several districts have claimed 52 lives in Kerala, even as the meteorological department has predicted that conditions will improve by Sunday. While the rains weakened in central Kerala, there was no let up in northern districts, where many deaths have been reported and nearly 125,000 people have been displaced.
A red alert has been issued in eight districts of Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod.
Karnataka too saw no let-up in rains, with 26 people dead in rain related incidents so far. Most rivers are in spate and chief minister B S Yediyurappa has termed the natural calamity the “biggest” in 45 years. The state government pegged the losses caused by rains and floods at Rs 6,000 crore and has sought Rs 3000 crore as relief from the Centre.
At least 235,000 people have been evacuated, and 44,013 cattle have been rescued in Karnataka, where the swollen Netravati river has inundated Pane Mangaluru village in Dakshina Kannada district, among other affected regions. Landslides were also reported near Maranahalli in Sakaleshpur.
In Puthumala in Kerala’s Wayanad district, where a landslide on Thursday destroyed several homes and claimed at least 30 lives, six bodies were discovered on Saturday even as more people — many migrant workers — are feared trapped under the mud. Kalpetta legislator C K Saseendran said at least nine are missing in this area. More than 50,000 people from the district are in relief camps.
In the neighbouring Malappuram district, at least 60 persons are missing after a major landslide in Kavalapara on Thursday. Rescue operations were halted on Saturday after another landslide occurred in the region.
“After the landslide in Kavalapara mud and slush formed a 40-feet high mound. At least 60-odd people are trapped inside it. It is a difficult task. The CM [Pinarayi Vijayan] has sought military engineering wing’s help,” said Nilambur legislator P V Anwar, who has been camping in the area.
“All are working hard to minimize damage. In some places like Wayanad situation is really serious,” said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who said that he was in constant touch with the Centre. He will conduct an aerial survey of affected areas on Sunday.
One of the four shutters of the Banasurasagar dam, located about 21 km from Kalpetta in Wayanad, one of the worst affected districts, was opened to discharge excess water and people on the banks of the Kabini river have been asked to be cautious.
Though rail services remain cancelled, flight operations from the Kochi international airport will resume at noon on Sunday, two days after it was shut as water entered the runway area due to heavy rains and floods, an official said on Saturday. Check-in will resume at 9 am on Sunday in both domestic and international terminals. “The runway is intact in flood this time. No tear marks/ slush was reported on runway,” the official said.
3000 evacuated in TN
With the catchment areas of Cauvery river in Karnataka receiving abundant rainfall, 1 lakh cusecs of water have been released into Mettur Dam in the Salem district of Tamil Nadu.
Drummers were sent to riverside villages in the district to warn them to stay away from the river. A flood alert was sounded in five villages following discharge of surplus water from Pykara dam, which reached its full capacity of 96 feet due to incessant rains over the last one week.
The rainfall in western districts of Tamil Nadu saw no let up with more than 3,000 people evacuated in Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts, Tamil Nadu revenue and disaster management minister RB Udhayakumar said.
The Indian Air Force rescued 11 people, including two infants from rain-battered Avalanchi and shifted them to Coimbatore for medical help.
A landslide occurred at Panthalur and restoration work was on, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said.
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