Thiruvananthapuram: Amid fears of flooding and landslides triggered by relentless rain, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Monday convened an emergency meeting of district collectors and senior officials as Kerala battled a worsening weather situation and memories of the 2018 floods resurfaced across the state.
The online meeting, which was under way, brought together district collectors, the Home and Revenue ministers, district in-charge ministers and the Chief Secretary to review the rain situation, relief camp arrangements, rescue operations and precautionary measures.
The Chief Minister is expected to issue further directions to strengthen the state’s disaster response as the weather continues to remain highly unpredictable.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for all 14 districts on Monday, warning of heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms. According to the IMD, the current spell has been triggered by a coastal trough extending from the South Gujarat coast to the North Kerala coast.
While rainfall has eased marginally in parts of north Kerala, forecasters have cautioned that another spell of heavy rain is likely from Aug 5.
The worsening weather has once again revived painful memories of the catastrophic floods of August 2018, the worst Kerala had witnessed in nearly a century.
With rivers swelling, dams nearing danger levels and relief camps filling up, residents, particularly in flood-prone parts of central Kerala, fear a repeat of the disaster.
The Pamba river continues to rise, prompting authorities to issue a high alert in the Ranni and Kozhencherry taluks of Pathanamthitta district. People in vulnerable areas are being moved to safer locations as a precaution.
A major concern is the Moozhiyar dam, where heavy rain in the catchment area has pushed the reservoir to the Red Alert level of 190 metres. Officials have warned that if the water level reaches the full reservoir level of 192.63 metres, the shutters will be opened to release water into the Kakkattar river, which could further raise downstream levels.
Residents along the banks of the Kakkattar and Pamba rivers have been advised to remain on high alert and stay away from riverbanks.
Although rain has weakened in parts of northern Kerala, the situation remains precarious. Wayanad has witnessed temporary respite, while Malappuram continues to receive intermittent showers. Restrictions remain in force at the Thamarassery Ghat Pass and major tourist destinations, and Kozhikode city continues to face severe waterlogging despite a reduction in rainfall.
Authorities have intensified evacuation efforts across the state. According to official figures, 7,674 people have been shifted to 273 relief camps, with Pathanamthitta accounting for 75 camps, followed by Kottayam with 64 and Kozhikode with 36.
Complaints have also emerged from some camps over inadequate basic amenities and sanitation facilities.
The rain has already caused significant damage. Official figures show that 30 houses have been completely destroyed and 293 others partially damaged. As of Sunday evening, the official death toll stood at 11, with rescue teams continuing operations in several vulnerable areas.
Fishing has been banned along the Kerala coast due to rough sea conditions, while all water-based tourism and recreational activities have been suspended.
Though meteorologists do not foresee a direct repeat of the unprecedented 2018 flood event at this stage, disaster management authorities have stressed that the present weather system, saturated catchments and rising river levels warrant the highest caution.
With more rain forecast in the coming days, the next 48 to 72 hours are expected to be crucial in determining whether Kerala can avert another major flood crisis.
(Inputs from IANS)