New Delhi: At least five people have been killed and two others are missing after heavy rain caused landslides and flash floods in several parts of Kerala.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more heavy rain in the state for the next four days and has issued an Orange alert for Kottayam and Idukki districts. An Orange alert means very heavy rain between 11 cm and 20 cm is expected.
Five swept away in Malappuram river
The worst incident was reported from Malappuram district. Five people were swept away in the Kottapuzha River in the Nilambur-Amarambalam area on Sunday evening. According to police, the group had come from Vandoor and entered the river for a bath when the water level suddenly rose due to a flash flood. A local resident managed to rescue one person. The Fire and Rescue team later recovered the bodies of two others. Two people are still missing and a search operation is underway.
Chief Minister VD Satheesan has ordered a special team of the Disaster Management Force to be sent to the area immediately to help with rescue work.
Landslides in Kottayam and IdukkiIn Kottayam, a woman from Tamil Nadu died after a landslide hit her at Velathusseri near Teekoy on Sunday evening. The victim has been identified as 35-year-old Sangeetha Arul Lal from Chennai.
Police said she was returning from Vagamon on a scooter with her friend when mud and soil slid onto the road. Sangeetha died on the spot. Her friend was injured and is in hospital.
In another incident in Idukki, three people who had taken shelter in a shed during rain were buried when a large mass of soil collapsed from a hillside at Kottakamboor on Sunday afternoon. Two of them died, while one woman was injured and taken for treatment.
Government on alert
In view of the situation, Chief Minister VD Satheesan has asked officials to review the situation every hour. On Sunday, Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Vigneshwari IAS held a meeting with the District Collectors of Idukki and Kottayam. SMS weather alerts have been issued for people in Idukki and Kottayam, and Collectors have been told to shift people from low-lying and landslide-prone areas to safer places if needed. The IMD has also warned of thunderstorms in parts of the state on September 20 and 21.According to IMD data, Kerala has received 28 percent less rainfall than normal between June 1 and September 17 this year.
