Kerala continues to reel under monsoon fury with many regions still under water and landslides reported from many parts of the hilly tracks. The toll in the flood waters and landslides has reached 42 with hundreds still missing in the landslides in Malappuram and Wayanad districts.
Briefing reports in Thiruvananthapuram, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed that 42 deaths have been reported till now.
According to reports, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts recorded the highest number of 20 deaths each and nine in Wayanad till now after the rains started to play havoc in the state from August 8.
The Chief Minister said that 1,08,138 people have been shifted to 1002 relief camps. Kozhikode has the highest number of 210 relief camps with 23771 people accommodated. Wayanad has 186 camps with 24990 people, Malappuram 139 camps with 16684 people, Ernakulam 134 (16768 people) and Thrissur 118 camps (11807). Relief camps have also been opened in other districts.
Several people are still believed to be trapped in the land slide in Malappuram and Wayanad. More than 80 people are feared to be trapped in the landslide that occurred in kavalpara in Nilamboor in malappuram and about 40 still under the debris in Puthumala landslide.
Vijayan said that all efforts are on at Puthumala and Kavalpara for retrieving the bodies and also to rescue others who are still stranded in the region. Though the government has taken all measures for rescue operations, frequent landslides and blockades in the region is a challenge to them. The army and the NDRF teams have been deployed in the regions.
Noting that only three dams in the state – Kuttiyadi, Peringalkuthu and Banasura – have reached the maximum capacity, Vijayan said that all other dams including Idukki are less.
Meanwhile, Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi is said to visit his constituency on Sunday. He had already talked with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and requested all possible assistance to the people of his constituency.
