New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday as the death toll in the devastating floods caused by heavy rains and landslides in the hilly areas of the two central districts rose to 21.
The death toll due to heavy rains and landslides in Kerala is 21 (Kottayam – 13 and Idukki – 8), Kerala’s Information and Public Relations Department reported, news agency ANI reported.
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PM Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter, “Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the situation in the wake of heavy rains and landslides in Kerala. Officials are working at the ground level to assist the injured and affected. I am all Praying for his safety and well being.”
“It is sad that some people have lost their lives due to heavy rains and landslides in Kerala. Condolences to the bereaved families,” he said.
It is sad that some people have lost their lives due to heavy rains and landslides in Kerala. Condolences to the bereaved families.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 17, 2021
The death toll reached 21 as more bodies were pulled out of the rubble on Sunday.
On Saturday, state Revenue Minister K Rajan said rescue workers have recovered 15 bodies from debris and debris of landslides that took place at various places in Idukki and Kottayam districts.
“Rescue personnel have recovered 15 bodies so far. In this, 12 bodies were recovered from Kottal in Kottayam, one body of Peerumedu and two bodies from Kanjar in Idukki district yesterday.
Leader of Opposition in Kerala VD Satheesan, who visited Kokkayar and Kootikal, alleged that the state government had failed to launch rescue operations in time in the affected areas.
A family of six people, including a 40-year-old man, his 75-year-old mother, 35-year-old wife and three girls aged 14, 12 and 10, were killed as they ransacked their home at Koottical in Kottayam district. Got washed away in a landslide.
Meanwhile, a day after wreaking havoc in the state, heavy rains have stopped.
IMD forecast and relief work
In its forecast, the India Meteorological Department said that yesterday’s low pressure area over Southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Kerala has become less marked and is now being extended as a trough from South Interior Karnataka to South Tamil Nadu at lower levels. being seen in
“Under its influence, isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Kerala and Mahe on 17 October 2021 followed by significant reduction,” it informed.
Thereafter, a fresh round of easterly wave is very likely to affect South Peninsular India from October 20 and isolated heavy rains very likely over Kerala from October 20 onwards and likely to continue for 3-4 days thereafter.
State Revenue Minister K Rajan, before leaving for Kokkayar in Idukki to coordinate the rescue operation, said that the rescue operation was going on at various places due to less rain in the state.
Earlier, an army team had reached the affected sites and launched a search operation to find the missing people.
A Navy helicopter along with relief material also reached the affected areas. It was informed that naval helicopters have been deployed to distribute food kits and other essential materials in the areas of Kuttal and Kokkayar where landslides have occurred.
CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday urged the people of Kerala to exercise extreme caution as the Meteorological Department has withdrawn red and orange alerts for the state’s south-central districts and asked the public to follow the instructions of the authorities. .
“The meteorologist has warned of strong wind and lightning by this evening. At present, the depression formed in the Arabian Sea has weakened. However, there is a possibility of rain till evening. Yellow alert has been issued by IMD for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts.
He also informed that 105 relief camps have been opened across the state and more camps will be set up if needed.
“NDRF teams have been deployed in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram districts. Instructions have been issued to deploy five additional teams in Idukki, Kottayam, Kollam, Kannur and Palakkad districts. Two Air Force helicopters have reached Thiruvananthapuram from Coimbatore.
NDRF teams in an early morning operation rescued around 80 people trapped in waterlogged areas of Pathanamthitta district.
Meteorological officials had informed that Peerumedu in the hilly district of Idukki received 24 cm of rain till 5.30 pm on Saturday.
He said automatic weather stations in North Paravoor recorded 38 mm of rain, Muvattupuzha (89.5 mm), Pallurathi (34 mm) and Nileshwaram in North Kerala district received 125.5 mm of rain till 8.30 pm on Saturday.
(with inputs from agencies)
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