8 dead, 1 missing as heavy rain triggers flash floods, landslides in Keralam
Five people have died after being swept away by strong water currents in Kerala's Malappuram district, following heavy rain in the state.
Heavy rain in Keralam triggered mudslides, landslides and flash floods on Sunday, leaving eight people dead in separate incidents and one person missing as rescue teams continued search operations across affected areas.
Chief Minister VD Satheesan ordered an hourly assessment of the rain situation, while district authorities were directed to closely monitor conditions and take necessary measures, including evacuation where required.
A flash flood in the Malappuram district swept away six people after the water flow suddenly intensified. Five bodies have been recovered so far, while rescue teams are continuing the search for the remaining missing person.
The people had entered the river when the water level suddenly rose, causing them to be washed away by the strong current. The state administration deployed a special Disaster Management Force team to the Nilambur-Amarambalam area following the incident.
LANDSLIDES CLAIM LIVES IN IDUKKI, KOTTAYAM
In Kottayam district, a 35-year-old woman from Tamil Nadu was killed and her friend was injured in a landslide on Sunday.
The victim was identified as Sangeetha, a Chennai resident, who was returning to Tamil Nadu along with her friend Vagamon in the evening when the landslide occurred.
Mud fell onto the road and trapped Sangeetha, who was riding a scooter. Her friend escaped with injuries and was taken to hospital.
Earlier in the day, two people were killed and a woman was injured after a mudslide flattened a shed in Idukki district.
The three had taken shelter in the shed at around 3.30 pm to escape the rain when a mudslide came down and damaged the structure, trapping them underneath.
ORANGE ALERT IN SIX DISTRICTS
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert in six districts of Keralam on Monday morning, warning of heavy to very heavy rain and thunderstorms at isolated places. The alert was issued for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts.
The IMD also said thunderstorms accompanied by rain and maximum surface wind speeds of up to 40 kmph were very likely at isolated places in these districts.
Light rain was also likely at isolated places in Kollam, Palakkad and Kannur districts, the weather agency said.
CM ORDERS HOURLY ASSESSMENT
Chief Minister VD Satheesan directed that the state's rain situation be assessed every hour as heavy rain continued across several parts of Keralam.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office on Sunday night, Disaster Management Commissioner Vigneswari IAS convened a meeting with the collectors of Idukki and Kottayam districts to assess the situation.
SMS alerts were issued in Idukki and Kottayam districts, and the collectors were directed to assess the situation and take necessary measures, including evacuation.
The Chief Minister also ordered the immediate deployment of a special Disaster Management Force team to the Nilambur-Amarambalam area in Malappuram following the deadly flash flood incident.
RAIN FORECAST FOR NEXT FOUR DAYS
The IMD forecast heavy rain in parts of Keralam over the next four days and warned of thunderstorms at isolated places in the state from September 20 to 21.
The weather agency had upgraded the alerts in Kottayam and Idukki from yellow to orange amid the worsening weather conditions.
An orange alert indicates very heavy rainfall of 11 cm to 20 cm, while a yellow alert denotes heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm.
According to IMD data, Keralam recorded a rainfall deficit of 28 per cent between June 1 and September 17.
With heavy rain expected to continue, authorities have intensified monitoring in affected districts and directed district administrations to take necessary precautionary measures, including evacuation where required. Rescue teams continue to search for the person missing after the river flash flood in Malappuram.