Kerala Revenue Minister held a meeting with DC to review rain preparation and schools and colleges will be closed in three districts.
Published Jun 26, 2024 | 2:34 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 27, 2024 | 1:10 AM
Kerala Revenue Minister oversees rain preparation
As Kerala continues to witness heavy rain on Wednesday, 26 June houses were damaged, trees uprooted, and water levels rose steadily in rivers and dams across the state.
Revenue Minister K Rajan chaired a meeting with District Collectors (DCs) on 27 June and told them that very heavy to extremely rains are expected in the state for the next two days.
DCs have been given directions to cut down trees that might become a threat to public safety and tender proceedings need not be followed in this instance, said the Minister.
Nine teams of NDRF have been deployed in Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kollam, Kozhikode, Thrissur, and Wayanad. “The state is receiving heavy rains. The amount of rain that the state received on 26 June, which is 69.6 mm, should be considered as highest in recent times. So, officials must remain on alert,” cautioned Rajan.
High tides and sea incursions were reported in districts like Thrissur and Ernakulam, and landslides wreaked havoc in the high ranges of Kozhikode while several houses were damaged in districts like Kollam and Alappuzha.
Alappuzha District Collector ordered the closure of educational institutions that came under Cherthala taluk on 27 June and stated that schools that function as relief camps will also remain closed..
All educational institutions in Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Wayanad will also remain closed on 27 June. As a safety measure, Idukki DC ordered a ban on tourism activities in the district till further notice.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an orange alert in seven districts — Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod— on Wednesday.
A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while orange alert means very heavy rain (6 cm to 20 cm). A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 to 11 cm.
Several houses have been damaged in Alappuzha, Kannur and Idukki districts following heavy downpours and winds since on Tuesday night, authorities said.
A portion of the “annadana mandapam” (dining hall) at the famed Ochira Parabrahma Temple in Kollam district collapsed in incessant rains. A number of trees reportedly got uprooted on the banks of the Periyar River in Aluva near Ernakulam.
Shutters at a number of dams, like Malankara, Pambla, and Kallarkutty, were raised to release excess water.
The District Administration of Ernakulam urged people living on the banks of the Muvattupuzha and Thodupuzha rivers to maintain extra vigil as three shutters of the Malankara Dam were raised by one metre each.
In view of the continuing rains, a holiday was declared for educational institutions in Kottayam district on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Central Water Commission (CWC) announced an orange alert for two rivers in Pathanamthitta as the water level rises to a danger level. Alert is meant for the Pamba and Manimala rivers.
CWC also sounded a yellow alert (water rising in warning level) for three rivers — Achankovil (Pathanamthitta), Manimala (Kottayam) and Thodupuzha (Idukki).
As per the latest radar imagery, moderate to intense rainfall with winds gusting up to 40 kmph is expected in Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, and Thrissur districts in the coming hours.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) warned that water logging on major roads and poor visibility may lead to traffic congestion. It also warned people residing in coastal areas to be alert.
It also suggested regulating traffic effectively, including a ban on night travel in the hilly regions of Idukki and Ernakulam districts, and restricting non-essential movements of people.
(With inputs from PTI and Dileep V Kumar)
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