Floods, landslides hit Kerala, Karnataka; Assam situation improving

Heavy rainfall triggered a massive landslide in a tea estate in Kerala on Friday (August 7), while the flood-like situation and mudslides continued to cause havoc in Karnataka. Eleven bodies have so far been recovered from the tea estate in Rajamalar area of Munnar, Idukki, while 70 people are still feared trapped. Heavy rainfall is being witnessed in several other districts. In Ernakulam, carcass of an elephant was seen being washed away by floodwaters through the Periyar river on Thursday. The situation is similar in Karnataka; it continues to be battered by torrential rains, triggering mudslides and flood-like situation.

The landslide at Idukki occurred in the wee hours. The 10 people who were rescued earlier have been sent to Tata Hospital in Munnar. Latest reports suggest around 80 houses of tea estate workers (four clusters of 20 shacks each) have been washed away by the floodwater. Police and Fire service personnel are at the spot and the district administration has asked hospitals in the region to stay prepared. The state Health department has dispatched 15 ambulances and a special medical team to provide medical assistance to those affected by the landslides in Idukki.

Meanwhile, the office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has contacted the Air Force seeking its helicopter for the rescue mission in Idukki. “The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed for the rescue operations in Idukki. The team was already stationed in the district. Another NDRF team from Thrissur was also directed to move to Idukki,” Vijayan said. The India Meteorological Department had issued a red alert for Idukki on Friday, indicating extremely heavy rainfall of over 20 cms.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives and wished speedy recovery to the injured. “Pained by the loss of lives due to a landslide in Rajamalai, Idukki. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. NDRF and the administration are working on the ground, providing assistance to the affected.” The PMO has, meanwhile, announced an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those killed in the landslide, and ₹50,000 each for those injured.

Munnar MLA S Rajendran told the media that it was difficult to reach the spot as a bridge which provided access to the area was washed away in the rains. “At least 200-300 people live there. There are many lanes and a canteen at the location. We are yet to receive further details. Since one of the bridges to that area was destroyed last night, it has become difficult to access the region,” he added.

Meanwhile, Karnataka continued to be battered by torrential rains, triggering a flood-like situation and landslides. Many places in Malnad, coastal and north interior regions of the state have been affected by deluge, putting life and properties at risk. While most of the rivers in these regions are swollen due to rising inflow because of showers continuing in the catchment areas, there are reports of landslips in hilly Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru areas.

Flood-like situation persists in the border regions of Belagavi district, with rising water levels in Krishna river and its tributaries due to rains in ghat areas of Maharashtra and water being released from the dams there. Adding to this, the district too has been receiving rains, inundating low lying areas and crops. The situation is similar in Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga districts. Water is being released from several dams in the state including Alamatti and Kabini. The Tungabhadra dam in Hosapete has reached its brim. There have been reports of mudslides near Botlappa and other places in Kodagu, also along Charmadi ghat near Chikkamagaluru and Dakshina Kannada. Cauvery river is overflowing and water has entered Bhagamandala temple and blocked major connecting roads in the district.

Search is on by the NDRF team and authorities for five people including the priest at Talacauvery, the origin of river Cauvery, who had gone missing due to massive landslides at Bramhagiri hills on Wednesday night. Heavy rains in Hassan district, especially in the Hemavathi river catchment area, has led to an increase in water level at the reservoir in Gorur. Also Yagachi reservoir in Belur is receiving heavy inflow due to downpour in Mudigere taluk.

Meanwhile, the situation in Assam is improving slowly as floodwaters continue to recede in the state. However, 84,100 people across 10 districts are still affected by the calamity, an official bulletin said on Thursday. At present, 177 villages and 15,964 hectare of crop areas are under water, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority said in its bulletin. More than 1.43 lakh people in 270 villages across 15 districts had been reeling under the deluge on Wednesday. Flood and landslides claimed 136 lives this year in Assam. While 110 people died in flood-related incidents, 26 were killed in landslides. Goalpara is the worst-hit district with over 54,300 people affected, while more than 8,000 and 4,200 people are suffering from the calamity in Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar districts respectively, said the ASDMA. The seven other districts hit by the deluge are Dhemaji, Baksa, Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan, Chirang, Morigaon and Nagaon, it said.

(With inputs from agencies)