Kasargod: Incessant rain creates flood like situation, low areas inundated

Stephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)

Kasargod, Aug 9: Torrential storm and rainfall in Kasargod district has created flood like situation. Low lying areas are inundated. Those people living near sea shore and low lying areas are at risk.

Eighteen rehabilitation centers are opened in the district. Though rain till Thursday afternoon was less, it is raining without break since the evening. Normal life has disrupted. There is no power in several places since the last three days. Rain coupled with storm has caused loss worth several crore rupees. Red alert is announced in the district due to heavy rain. Schools and colleges have declared holiday since the last two days.

A huge tree had uprooted and fallen at Mogral, Puttur across Kasargod-Mangaluru national highway which threw traffic out of gear for several hours. Fire service personnel and local people removed the tree and made way for traffic.

Deputy Commissioner Dr D Sajith Babu has asked people in low lying areas such as Kodom Belur, East Eleri, Balal and others to move to safe places.

The bridge across a lake in Achathurthi, Nileshwar was washed away and people are facing difficulties to commute. Power lines have snapped. Hundreds of electric poles have fallen. Maximum loss was reported during the last two days. Most of the rivers in the district are brimming and overflowing. More than 100 families on the banks of Tejaswini River have been shifted to safe places. A well caved in at West Eleri.

Sea erosion has increased near Uppala sea shore. Anxious families in Musodi, Sharadanagar, Hanuman Nagar and other places are facing uncertainties. Some families have moved to safer places. More than ten houses have collapsed during the last four days. Rehabilitation centers are opened in Uppala government LP school, Koyikode farm house, Udumbutala Anganwadi etc. Nine families at Uppala Musodi are shifted to Uppala School. Two families in Kumble are shifted to the houses of their families.

“The district administration is prepared to face any eventualities. All the departments are working towards it,” said deputy commissioner D Sajith Babu.

Kerala rains: 28 dead, 64,000 in 738 relief camps 

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 9 (IANS) With incessant rain in Kerala, the death toll has reached 28 and over 64,000 people have shifted into 738 relief camps across the rain-battered state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Friday.

So far, 20 deaths caused by the floods have been reported across the state. Eight deaths had been reported on Thursday.

"These figures are till 3 p.m . The major message that we have to send out to the people living in worst affected districts is please listen to the authorities when they come with the message asking people to move to camps," Vijayan said here addressing the media on Friday evening after chairing a review meeting on relief and rescue operations.

He said a red alert had been issued for Saturday in the worst affected districts of Ernakulam, Palakkad, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur.

"Had the people in the outskirts of Nilambur in Malappuram listened, a big tragedy could have been averted. We are told that 19 families who were told to move out did so, and in the very same area, 40 people who failed to listen to the authorities are reported missing after it was hit by landslide.

"Three bodies have been recovered and two were saved. This should not happen, please listen to the authorities," Vijayan said.

He also said that Wayanad district continues to be the worst affected, while the situation get tougher if the gates of the Banasura dam were to be opened.

"A team of ministers are in Wayanad overseeing the operations and by tomorrow (Saturday) morning all will get the required facilities at the relief camps that are being set up across Wayanad district," he added.

Earlier on Friday, Vijayan assured people there was no need to panic at all as things are under control.

"If one compares with the floods that took place the same time last year, this time it's not that serious. As a government, we have taken every precaution and there need be no panic, but just be alert. The need of the hour is people should cooperate with the authorities, if they are asked to move out from places which are likely to turn dangerous, they must comply," he said.

"At Mepadi, an entire hill has been washed away. The inclement weather is preventing aerial operations, even as the Air Force team is ready and waiting to reach there. The Centre has pledged all possible help.

"The meteorological department has predicted more rains in the next 24 hours, especially in the hilly areas of the state. Also, North Kerala is going to be affected by winds. The prediction is that from tomorrow the intensity of the rains is going to come down, but on August 15th, it's going to rain heavily," Vijayan added.

On the presence of the forces which are engaged in relief and rescue operations, he said there are 13 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and three teams each of the engineering task force and the Army.

"Two more columns of the Army are arriving. With the Cochin airport closed till Sunday, efforts are on to see if the Cochin Naval Base airport can be opened (it was open during last year's floods). The Centre is always in touch with us," he said.

He also said that the 67th edition of the Nehru Boat Race, to be held on Saturday at Alappuzha, has been postponed.