Kerala floods devastation: 15 killed, 8 missing in landslide; Yellow alert of heavy rain in 11 districts

Incessant heavy rains in Kerala have worsened the situation. So far 15 people have died and 8 are missing in the incidents of floods and landslides in the state. The hilly areas of Kottayam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta are the most affected by the floods. The deaths have been reported at Thodupuzha in Idukki and Kootikkal in Kokkayar, Kottayam.

At the same time, the rivers in Meenachal and Manimala are in spate. Several people have been injured in rain-related incidents. Also, many people have been shifted to safer places. Even in many districts, dams have reached near their full capacity. Many small towns and villages in the hilly areas of the state are completely cut off from the outside world.

Army is carrying out rescue operation for missing persons in the rubble at Kavali, Kottayam.

A man carrying his pet dog from the flooded Vellayani Kakkamool Road in Thiruvananthapuram.

NDRF team is engaged in relief and rescue work in the flood affected areas of Kerala.

Yellow alert in these 11 districts including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam
The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rains in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts. At the same time, scattered rain occurred in parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has issued red and orange alert for heavy rains for Uttarakhand, western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Punjab.

Relief and rescue operations are underway in Kottayam. Some people are feared trapped under the rubble.

Indian Air Force informed that medium-lift helicopters were inducted for flood relief efforts in rain-hit districts of Kerala.

Air Force personnel engaged in relief and rescue work
Defense PRO said that a team of army personnel from Kannur along with engineering and medical units has reached Wayanad for rescue operations. The engineering task force from Bengaluru is expected to reach Wayanad soon. A total of 3 columns have been deployed by the Army so far. The tour of the rain-affected areas is going on through Navy chopper with relief material. Two Air Force Helicopters MI-17 are on standby at Air Force Station Shangamugham.

There has been a landslide at Kootkal in Kottayam district. Two more bodies were recovered during the rescue operation here on Sunday.

The Kallada river in Kollam district is in spate due to heavy rains in Kerala.

Kerala CM Vijayan said – the situation is serious
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has described the situation as serious. He said that the IMD has warned of widespread heavy rain in the state due to the low pressure system formed over the Arabian Sea. At the same time, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the situation is being continuously monitored in some parts of Kerala in view of heavy rains and floods. The central government will do everything possible to help the needy people.