Kerala floods updates: 11 deaths in Malappuram landslides take toll to 67; fresh rains ravage parts of state

25 killed in Kerala today with 11 deaths reported from Malappuram alone 

Indian Navy deploys 21 teams for relief operations in Kerala

Tamil Nadu agrees to draw more water from Mullaperiyar Dam after Centre's intervention

The Tamil Nadu government has agreed to draw more water from the Mullaperiyar Dam, following neighbouring Kerala's request and Home Minister Rajnath Singh's intervention. 

Pinarayi Vijayan said that he had written to the Tamil Nadu chief minister E Palaniswami to decrease the water level to 139 feet as there is heavy downpour in the catchment areas of the dam. The decrease in the water level was important to prevent the situation of a sudden release of water in large volumes, which will result in widespread damage. 

The Tamil Nadu government finally agreed to withdraw more water after Vijayan asked Centre to intervene and Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Tamil Nadu chief secretary. 

Hundreds of people marooned in Pathanamthitta 

The spate in the Pampa river has marooned hundreds of families in Pathanamthitta district. The Kerala government has requested Indian Airforce to airlift all the residents to safety from many places in Ranni and Kozhencherry towns in the district. Many people are forced to camp on their terraces even as water keeps rising

Several places in Pathanamthitta district, have no electricity which has made rescue operations very difficult.

Exams in Kerala schools cancelled due to unprecedented flood situation 

The Kerala government has postponed Onam examinations scheduled to be held from 31 August in the schools following the heavy rains. Director of Public instructions said that the decision as many schools were being used as relief camps. He said that the revised schedule will be announced later. The Kerala government has already announced cancellation of the state Onam celebrations.

More rainfall in catchment area of dam reservoirs

According to reports, more rainfall has been recorded in the catchment areas of Mullaperiyar dam reservoirs. This will mean higher water level in the dams, following which more water will have to be released downstream. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said: "There is heavy downpour in the catchment areas of the dam. To prevent the situation of a sudden release of water in large volumes, which will result in widespread damage, water levels must be lowered immediately."

Pinarayi Vijayan asks Centre for additional teams of army, NDRF; seeks navy's help in evacuation

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has requested Home Minister Rajnath Singh to send additional teams of Indian Army, NDRF and Army Engineering Corps to the state to help with the relief and rescue operations. In a tweet, Vijayan's office said that a C-17 aircraft and more dinghy boats were also requested for transporting equipment to the affected areas. 

Kerala govt seeks Indian Navy's assistance to carry out evacuation in Kuttanad

The government has sought the assistance of Indian Navy in the rescue operations in the Kuttanad region, many parts of which are below the sea level. The backwaters of Kuttanad and Upper Kuttanad have been overflowing following the opening of the shutters of the dam in Pathanamthitta district. Forty members of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) are already in place in Kuttanad. The district collector has appealed to people living on the banks of rivers and backwaters to move to safer places.

Pinarayi Vijayan meets Governor P Sathasivam

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan briefed the Kerala Governor about the losses suffered by the state due to the present heavy rains, floods, landslides and the rising water level in various dams and the relief and rescue measures being taken by the government. He informed Governor P Sathasivam that the state government was keeping close vigil on the situation and that the disaster management authority of the State was working in co-ordination with all other departments of the state and central forces such as Indian Army, navy, air force, coast guard and NDRF. 

IAS officer S Harikishore joins rescue ops while his own family puts up at relief camp

Senior IAS officer S Harikishore and his family are among thousands who have taken shelter in relief camps in Pathanamthitta district. Hari, who is the executive director of Kudumbashree, was evacuated after water entered his house in the district. After putting up his family members in the relief camp, he joined the officials engaged in the rescue and relief operations in the district. Earlier, former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president VM Sudheeran and his family were evacuated from their house at Gowreespattom in Thiruvananthapuram city.

Pinarayi Vijayan asks Tamil Nadu to lower water level in Mullaperiyar Dam to 139 feet

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged Tamil Nadu government to bring down the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam to 139 feet. He has sought the intervention of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in this regard. The chief minister has reportedly informed the minister that the continuing rain in the catchment areas of the dam would lead to further rise in the water level, which had touched the Supreme Court approved 142 feet in the morning.

Three fishermen go missing after vessel sinks off Kerala coast

Three fishermen from Vypin near Kochi went missing after a fishing boat carrying seven on board sank in rough seas off Alappuzha coast today, official sources
said.

A Defence spokesperson said a Naval helicopter, launched by the Southern Naval Command, has rescued four others who were on board the ill-fated vessel Anugraha.      

Kerala techies launch portal to facilitate relief measures 

Naredra Modi speaks to Pinarayi Viajayan over flood situation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, spoke to Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the phone, asking about the floood situation in the state. Modi later tweeted about his interaction with Vijayan and said that the central government will provide all assistance needed to tackle the natural disaster. 

Kerala tourism minister visits flood-hit areas of Trivandrum city

Kerala's Minister for Tourism K Surendran, along with District Collector K Vasuki and city mayor VK Prasanth visited some of inundated residential areas in Trivandrum city on Wednesday. 

IMD predicts more rainfall over next two days

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of heavy rains accompanied with gusty winds with speed reaching 60 kmph in all the 14 districts today. Red Alert has been issued in all the 14 districts of Kerala. IMD has also issued Red Alert for Idukki and Ernakulam districts on Thursday. 

Four NDRF teams airlifted from Pune to carry out rescue ops in Kerala

Four teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been airlifted from Pune Airport to Kerala for rescue operations. They have full-wave rectified (FWR) equipment and communication equipment with them, ANI reported.  

Rail route between Punalur (Kerala)- Chengotai (Tamil Nadu) disrupted after landslide 

Image courtesy: Naveen Nair

Death toll in rain-related incidents since 8 August rises to 54

The fresh bout of heavy rain has claimed 21 lives in various parts of Kerala. Seven members of a family who died after a mass of earth fell on their house at Peringavu in Malappuram district are among the dead. One person is feared to be trapped in the debris. Moreover, in the high-range Idukki district, an 85-year-old woman was killed in Elakkal and a 52-year-old woman died in Keerithode when mounds of earth fell on their homes. 

A man from Tamil Nadu was killed last evening when earth fell on a hotel he was working in Munnar while six other employees were rescued. In a similar incident, a couple and their six-year-old son were killed when earth fell on their house at Kondotty in Malappuram district early on Wednesday. A fisherman was electrocuted in Thrissur after he came in contact with a live electric wire. With this, the death toll in the heavy rain since 8 August has risen to 54. 

With inputs from TK Devasia 

Water logging at Sreekanteswara Temple in Thiruvananthapuram 

Video by Naveen Nair

Schools, colleges closed in 8 districts tomorrow 

The educational institutes will remain shut in the following eight districts tomorrow, owing to flooding and predictions of more rainfall: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Ernakulam and Kottayam, Livemint reported. 

In Ernakulam, the administration has declared holiday for all educational institutions, including professional colleges, both on 16 and 17 August. Eleven of 14 districts in Kerala are on high alert. 

Inputs by TK Devasia

Water flow from Idukki dam raised to 1,500 cumecs; Periyar river to swell further

The Kerala Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has informed that the discharge of water from Idukki dam will be increased to 1500 cumecs at 5 pm. I was increased from 1300 cumecs at 3 pm to 1400 cumecs at 4 pm. KSDMA has appealed to the people near the dam and those living on the banks of the Periyar river to remain cautious.

Top IAS officers in state asked to assist District Collectors, supervise disaster relief efforts

According to the latest government order, several top-ranking IAS officers have been asked to report on duty and assist the district collectors in managing the relief and rescue work. 

Indian Army rescued 23 people stranded in Ernakulam 

A column of Garhwal Regiment rescued 23 civilians from HIL colony in Eloor, Ernakulam. The column used ingenuity and modified tubes and utensils to rescue the women and children stranded in the area. 

Priority to get safe drinking water to residents, says Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan held an emergency meeting earlier in the day, to monitor the flood situation in the state. He said, "We're witnessing something that has never happened before in the history of Kerala. Almost all dams are opened. Most of our water treatment plants are submerged, motors are damaged. We're keeping all this in mind but our priority is to get drinking water to the people," Vijayan was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. 

Kerala battles 'unprecedented' flood situation, gates 35 of 39 dams opened for the first time

Sluice gates of 35 out of 39 dams have been opened for the first time in the history of the state. The opening of all the 13 shutters of the Mullapperiyar dam, maintained and operated by Tamil Nadu, has led to floods in several areas in the downstream including the densely populated Aluva town. The shutters were opened after the water-level crossed the Supreme Court-approved 142. Even after opening all the shutters the water level remained at the maximum storage capacity.

Kerala govt approaches Indian Navy to use Wellingdon naval airport 

Following the suspension of operations in the Cochin International Airport till 2 pm on 2 August, the Kerala government has approached Navy to explore the possibility of using the naval airport at the Wellingdon Island for operating smaller aircraft. The government has also urged the Civil Aviation Ministry to divert the Kochi-bound flights to Karipur airport at Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram airport instead of Mumbai and Bangalore airports. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has been asked to operate special services to take the passengers in the diverted flights to their respective destinations.

'Celebrate Independence Day by helping flood-hit people,' Pinarayi Vijayan appeals to citizen

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday urged people to contribute generously in the wake of the state's worst flood disaster in 94 years even as he took the Independence Day salute in Trivandrum in pouring rain.

"We are celebrating this year's Independence Day when the floods have ravaged the state. It is a disaster that has never been witnessed in the state. But if all of us join hands, we will be able to handle any disaster," he said.

Vijayan urged people to contribute generously to the Chief Minister Distress Relief Fund. "Whatever the contribution, small or big, let us make this year's Independence Day an occasion to help."