Six people were killed and at least 15 others are missing after extremely heavy rain triggered massive landslides in central Kerala’s Kottayam and Idukki districts on Saturday. The Kerala government sought the assistance of Army, Navy and Air Force for rescue operations as several towns were flooded and hundreds of houses inundated, with rivers overflowing and reservoirs inching to maximum storage level.
Six districts were put on red alert on Saturday. As per IMD’s daily monsoon report , Kerala received 74% excess rainfall on saturday . Between oct 7 and oct 13 , the state has received 166% excess rainfall averaging about 19 cm rainfall . Peermade recorded the highest rainfall in the state with 24 cm followed by Cheruthoni , Chalakudy and Poonjar at 14 cm .
Dams in many districts are nearing their full capacity and small towns and villages in hilly areas are cut off from the outside world . Several people were injured and displaced in rain-related incidents . Kottayam and Pathanamthitta are the most affected districts . ” The situation is grievous “,said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan .
MI17 and Sarang helicopters are on standby to meet the requirements . The IAF and Army have been deployed in Kottayam , Iddukki and Pathanamthitta . Army personals from Pangode military station have been rushed to flood affected areas .
Meanwhile ,three members of a family were killed and nearly eight people were missing following a landslide in Plappadly in Kottayam . Another landslide hit Kokkayar on the kottyaam_Iddukki border and eight people are missing.
