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Red alert sounded in eight districts; heavy discharge from Idukki; toll rises to 27
Many parts of Kerala were grappling with a looming crisis on Friday as a heavy rainfall warning and tidal flooding alert looked set to compound the worsening flood situation in the State. The State Disaster Management Authority issued a red alert for eight districts following a heavy rainfall warning by the weather office. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services has also issued a tidal flooding alert for Kerala from August 11 to 15.
Idukki and Ernakulam districts were put on high alert and the administration began preparations to evacuate families in anticipation of a flood situation following the decision to raise the shutters of the Cheruthoni dam to release excess water from the Idukki reservoir. The Chief Minister is scheduled to make an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas on Saturday.
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have offered assistance, with the Chief Ministers of these States donating Rs. 5 crore and Rs. 10 crore respectively for flood relief work. Chief Secretary Tom Jose said units of the Army, the Navy and the NDRF were assisting the civilian administration in rescue work and restoration of roads blocked by landslips. “Things are well under control. The government is on top of the situation,” he said at a press conference. The Air Force and the Coast Guard were on standby. The government has also made arrangements for diversion of air traffic from the Nedumbassery airport in Ernakulam in the event of floodwaters entering the runway. Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan who convened a review meeting at Aluva earlier in the day said the State Government would apprise the Central team of officials of the gravity of the situation and request emergency assistance to tide over the crisis. Experts said the perigean spring tides from August 11 to 15 could lead to flooding all along the Kerala coast, worsening the situation in low- lying areas such as Kuttanad.
Source : https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/heavy-flooding-puts-kerala-in-crisis/article24661250.ece
