Monsoon fury grips India: 15 dead in Kerala, Karnataka grapples with flooding, landslides
Torrential rains trigger landslides, school closures, and mass evacuations in Kerala; coastal Karnataka faces swollen rivers and blocked highways
Kerala and coastal Karnataka continue to reel under severe monsoon even as the flood situation in Assam eases slightly.
As many as 15 people have died while seven remain missing in Kerala, Chief Minister VD Satheesan said.
Several parts of the state recorded heavy rainfall, with three weather stations receiving more than 100 mm of rain, according to IMD data released on Monday (August 3), as authorities warned of a worsening situation in the southern district of Pathanamthitta.
The office of Kerala Tourism Minister PC Vishnunadh said heavy rain in the Sabarimala region had created a worrying situation in the district, with water levels likely to rise in Ranni and nearby areas.
Also read: Flood here, drought there: A tale of two Indias in monsoon
Vishnunadh is camping in Pathanamthitta and leading disaster management and relief operations, the minister's office said. It added that he was reviewing the situation at Kozhencherry along with Aranmula MLA Abin Varkey, government officials and other elected representatives.
Dams reach red alert levels
Meanwhile, one shutter of the Moozhiyar reservoir in the district was opened by 15 cms as its water level reached red alert status, officials said.
They advised people living on the banks of Kakkattar and Pampa rivers to be cautious.
Besides Moozhiyar, other major power generation dams, like Kallarkutty, Erattayar and Lower Periyar in Idukki, Poringalkuthu in Thrissur and Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode also have water levels in the red alert status, they said.
The rains also caused a landslide at a construction site at Panakkad in Malappuram, which was reportedly close to the residence of state Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty.
Recue ops underway
While the landslide did not cause any loss of life, it led to the blocking of traffic on the main road along the construction site.
From Kollam, fishing boats were being transported by road to Aranmula in Pathanamthitta, which is flooded, to help in rescue efforts, according to visuals on TV channels.
People living in low-lying areas have been directed to move to safer places without fail, as heavy rain overnight raised concerns of flooding in vulnerable areas.
Schools shut down
In view of the continuing heavy rainfall in Kerala, collectors of many districts have declared a holiday on Monday for all educational institutions.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Satheesan has convened an online meeting of district collectors at 10 am to review the rain situation across Kerala.
According to the India Meteorological Department, rainfall data recorded between 8.30 am on August 2 and 5.30 am on August 3 showed that Venkurinji in Pathanamthitta received the highest rainfall at 104.5 mm, followed by Udumbannoor in Idukki with 103.0 mm and Cheruthoni in Idukki with 101.5 mm.
Laha in Pathanamthitta received 87.0 mm of rain, while Thycattussery in Alappuzha recorded 80.0 mm. Neriamangalam in Ernakulam received 75.0 mm, followed by Ulanadu in Pathanamthitta with 74.5 mm.
Mattancherry in Ernakulam recorded 71.0 mm of rainfall. Ranni Chethackal in Pathanamthitta received 65.5 mm, Vadavathoor in Kottayam recorded 64.0 mm, Palluruthy in Ernakulam received 63.0 mm, and Munakkal in Thrissur recorded 62.0 mm.
According to the IMD, all these places recorded 60 mm or more of rainfall during the period, which the weather office classifies as significant rainfall.
Rescue operation underway after three members of a family, including a three-year-old child, were killed after a rain-triggered landslide buried their shed at Indiranagar, in Shivamogga district, Karnataka, Sunday, August 2. PTI Photo
Coastal Karnataka battered
In Karnataka, which has been reeling under drought-like conditions, torrential monsoon rains and strong winds battered the coastal Dakshina Kannada district overnight on Saturday-Sunday, triggering landslides, inundating roads and low-lying areas, and swelling major rivers.
The district administration placed emergency response mechanisms, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), on high alert as several rivers rose to dangerous levels after relentless downpours across Western Ghats catchment areas.
The Netravathi, Kumaradhara, Mrutyunjaya, Phalguni (Gurupura), and Somavathi rivers were reported flowing near or above danger marks, threatening riverside settlements and agricultural belts. Water levels have risen rapidly; downstream communities are being monitored and alerted.
Roads blocked, low-lying areas submerged
Landslides and flash floods blocked key routes and disrupted connectivity across the district. In Belthangady taluk, landslides obstructed the Mundaje-Dharmasthala route, while flash currents caused a retaining wall to collapse at Neriya, inundating nearby residential pockets.
Also read: Assam flood leaves 78 dead; IMD predicts more rains till August 3
Low-lying areca nut plantations, agricultural fields, and houses in Mundaje and Ujire were submerged. Authorities warned citizens, tourists, and pilgrims against approaching riverbanks, waterlogged roads, and beaches. Fishermen were ordered to stay ashore owing to surface winds and high waves.
Heavy earth-moving equipment was deployed on national highway corridors, including Charmadi, Shiradi, and Sampaje Ghat routes, to clear potential landslide debris and maintain movement for essential services.
Volunteers carry relief kits to flood-affected families at a temporary shelter, in Upper Assam. Handout via PTI Photo
Assam flood eases
In better news, the flood situation in Assam improved on Sunday, with around 1.35 lakh people now affected in five districts even though three more persons died, taking the toll in this year’s deluge to 85, according to an official bulletin.
All three deaths were reported from Sivasagar district.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reported that more than 1,36,200 people have been affected by floods in the Charaideo, Dhemaji, Golaghat, Jorhat, and Sivasagar districts. On Saturday, almost 1.8 lakh people were affected across five districts.
Also read: Monsoon mayhem: Floods ravage Kerala, Odisha, Assam; IMD warns of more rain
Sivasagar is the worst-hit district with over 55,000 people affected, followed by 40,000 people in Charaideo and 22,000 in Jorhat. According to ASDMA, 335 villages are inundated, while 15,422 hectares of farmland have been damaged.
The administration has been operating 54 relief camps and relief distribution centres in five districts, taking care of 13,771 people at present. At present, the Dhansiri river is flowing above the danger level at Numaligarh.
(With agency inputs)