The Hindu : Front Page : Rain wreaks havoc in State

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 01, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

Rain wreaks havoc in State

Special Correspondent

Landslips in Kottayam, Idukki and Malappuram districts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Houses, crops and properties were destroyed in heavy rain and floods in Central Travancore in the past 24 hours.

Heavy rain lashed many parts of Kerala, disrupting traffic and affecting life.

Landslips occurred at many places, including Erattupetta and Wagamon in Kottayam district, Velliyamattom in Idukki district and Vazhikkadavu, near Nilambur, in Malappuram district. No casualties have been reported so far.

Roads have been damaged in many parts of the State. Train services were hit on the Alappuzha-Ernakulam sector. Several rivers are in spate. Idukki district witnessed one of the heaviest rainfalls in recent years with Munnar and Thodupuzha recording heavy rainfall. The rainfall in Munnar last week was one of the highest. Very high rainfall has been reported from Ernakulam district too. Thirty-eight houses were destroyed in Idukki district and many more were damaged. The facade of a church collapsed at Nedumkandam.

Dam overflowing

Water from the Mullaperiyar dam started overflowing through the spillways with the water level rising to 137 ft, a foot above the level of its spillways. Some areas of Vandiperiyar town downstream were flooded. Water level in the reservoir had risen fast following obstruction in two of the four pipes used by Tamil Nadu to draw water from the reservoir.

The Malankara dam, near Thodupuzha, has filled up. The opening of the spillways has led to flooding downstream. Several areas in and around Muvattupuzha town downstream were flooded. Around 40 families have been shifted to safer places in Kuttanad.

In Alappuzha district, water levels have risen in Achencoil and Manimala rivers. The road connecting Alappuzha with Changanassery was flooded. Water level in the lower Kuttanad area is likely to rise with more water flowing in from the higher elevations.

The western low-lying lands in Kottayam district, including the tourist spot of Kumarakom, were under threat of inundation. According to a PTI report, 160 houses in the district have been damaged. Nearly 100 persons have been shifted to relief camps. In Malappuram, traffic along the Nadukani `churam,' came to a halt following landslip near Vazhikkadavu this morning. Revenue Minister K.M. Mani directed District Collectors to take precautionary measures and assess the damage soon. In an official release here, he said free ration and medical assistance would be provided wherever needed.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page