Heavy rains lashed Kerala on Saturday, creating a flood-like situation in many parts of the state. After hours of torrential rains, the situation got so bad that at least 4 people died and 12 were missing. The concerned state government has sought help from the Army and the Air Force for relief and rescue operations.
12 people have gone missing in Kottayam landslide and people traveling by car were washed away in water in Idukki. Later their body was recovered. Both have not been identified yet. Two people have also died in Pathanamthitta and Kottayam. The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for six districts of Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki and Palakkad.
#WATCH Waterlogged street in Kanjirappally, Kottayam district as the area continues to receive heavy rainfall
IMD has issued a Red Alert in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts of Kerala pic.twitter.com/LocqwW3CfL
— ANI (@ANI) October 16, 2021
Many of these districts have been receiving heavy rains since Friday night and several nearby dams have also been filled and gates of some of them have been opened to ease the pressure. Some areas of Kottayam have received 30 cm of rain in the last 24 hours. The Meteorological Department has said that strong winds will also prevail in some areas.
Three houses were destroyed in a landslide at Kootikal in Kottayam district and unconfirmed reports say that 6 bodies have been retrieved, but this has not been confirmed by the district administration. According to preliminary information, 12 people are missing. The district administration has sought help from the army. Appealing to keep the name confidential, a senior district administration official said that the death toll could rise now.
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