Kerala Rain Highlights: 6 Dead, Several Missing in Floods, Landslides; Army, Navy Assisting in Rescue Ops

Kerala Rains: Kottayam and Pathanamthitta are the most affected districts in the state as of now due to heavy rains since Friday night.

Written by: India.com News Desk Edited by: Priyanka

Updated: October 17, 2021, 12:00 AM IST

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https://www.india.com/news/india/kerala-rain-live-updates-4-dead-several-missing-kottayam-idukki-floods-landslides-army-iaf-assisting-rescue-ops-imd-kerala-weather-news-5056830/ Copy

The IMD has warned of widespread heavy rains in Kerala.

Kochi: At least six people died and a dozen were missing on Saturday as heavy rains pounded south and central Kerala causing flash floods and landslides in many parts, prompting the state government to seek the assistance of the defence forces for rescue operations. Five districts have been put on red alert and seven districts on orange alert. The Army and Air Force have stepped in after the state government’s request. Helicopters are on standby and all bases under Southern Air Command are on high alert. The Army has deployed its personnel in the flood-affected areas.

Here are the latest updates on Kerala rains:

11.30 PM: Shutters of Maniyar Dam in Pathanamthitta opened after an increase in the water level of the reservoir due to heavy rainfall, followed by low-pressure formations in the southeast of the Arabian Sea off the coast of Kerala.

11.00 PM: “The situation is serious”, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. He, however, said the latest weather forecast indicates that the situation is not going to get worse.

10.45 PM: Flood like situation in Ranni town of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala

#WATCH | Flood like situation in Ranni town of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala due to heavy rain followed by low-pressure formations in the southeast of the Arabian Sea off the coast of Kerala pic.twitter.com/cjgGZ7xtBy

— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2021

10.30 PM: Officials said personnel of the Army, Airforce and the Navy were on the way to Koottickal and Peruvanthanam–the two hilly villages falling under Kottayam and Idukki districts respectively–where an overflowing river swept through houses, displacing and isolating many.

10.15 PM: Many hilly areas of Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta are experiencing almost similar to that of the situation the state faced during the time of devastating floods of 2018 and 2019 but authorities said everything was under control and there was no need for any panic.

10.00 PM: Travancore Devaswom Board requests Lord Ayyappa devotees to refrain from visiting Sabarimala Temple on the 17th and 18th October in view of the continuing heavy rainfall in the state, especially in Pathanamthitta district & the dangerously high water level in Pampa river.

9.30 PM: One NDRF team each will be deployed in Malappuram, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta, Palakkad, Kottayam, Kannur and Kollam while two teams will be stationed at Idukki.

9.00 PM: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has earmarked 11 teams to be deployed in south and central parts of Kerala which are pounded by heavy rains. NDRF director general S N Pradhan said in a tweet that the teams are being sent “in view of red alert for rainfall and possible flooding/water logging in several districts of Kerala.”

8.30 PM: KSDMA (Kerala State Disaster Management Authority) is in touch with Naval Authorities. The diving and rescue teams are ready to be deployed at short notice. In addition, helicopters are also ready to be deployed once the weather is conducive for air operations.

8.15 PM: In view of the Red Alert in 5 districts of Kerala, HQ Southern Naval Command has gone up in readiness for assisting local administration in rescue ops. Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has sought assistance from Southern Naval Command, Kochi to airlift marooned families at Koottickal, Kottayam.

8.00 PM: Four people have died in landslides at Koottikkal in Kottayam and Kokkayar in Idukki districts as heavy rain continues in Kerala, with six districts put on red alert, news agency ANI tweeted.

7.00 PM: The Kerala government earlier sought the assistance of the Indian Air Force (IAF) for rescue operations in the state, where landslides have occurred following heavy rains. The Chief Minister’s Office said that help from the Air Force has been sought for rescue in Koottikal at Kottayam district where landslides have been reported isolating a few families.

6.00 PM: Minister for Cooperation and Registration V N Vasavan told PTI that at least three houses have been washed away in Kottayam district and 10 people feared missing. “At least four landslips have been reported from various parts of Kottayam district. We have sought the assistance of the Airforce to rescue people who are stranded in Koottikal area. We have received information about some people missing and over 60 waiting to be rescued as water entered their homes,” the Minister said.

Kerala: Thiruvananthapuram city experiences "generally cloudy sky with few spells of rain/thundershowers"

Red alert in Pathanamthitta,Kottayam,Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur dists&Orange alert in Thiruvananthapuram,Kollam,Alappuzha,Palakkad, Malappuram,Kozhikode&Wayanad dists today pic.twitter.com/MnijES5EbQ

— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2021

5.00 PM: Kottayam and Pathanamthitta are the most affected districts in the state as of now due to heavy rains since Friday night.

4.00 PM: “Six teams of NDRF have been deployed in six districts–Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki. Two teams of Army have been directed to be deployed in Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam districts. Airforce has been requested to be on standby in case of any emergencies,” a CMO release said.

Kerala Rains: Another Top 7 Points to Know

1. The CM also said a Red alert has been sounded for the dams under KSEB, including Kakki dam in Pathanamthitta, Sholayar in Thrissur, Kundala and Kallarkutti in Idukki.
2. A red alert has also been issued for Chulliyar dam in Palakkad and Peechi dam in Thrissur, which are under the irrigation department.
3. Revenue Minister K Rajan said a meeting will chaired by the Chief Minister this evening in which all district collectors and other concerned officials will take part.
4. “All necessary precautions have been taken. We have asked the district collectors to issue warnings to people residing along the river banks,” Rajan told PTI.
5. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of widespread heavy rains in the state due to the Low Pressure area formed over the Arabian Sea and issued a Red Alert for five districts in the state.
6. Destruction of roads was reported in many places including in Kollam and Kottayam districts while severe waterlogging made life miserable in Kuttanad region, popularly known as the ‘rice bowl’ of the state spread in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts.
7. The water level is rising steadily in many rivers including Meenachal and Manimala in the district.

(Based on PTI inputs)