Traffic was disrupted in many parts of the area, including the Pala-Erattupeta road, as flood waters receded on the road.
Traffic was disrupted in many parts of the area, including the Pala-Erattupeta road, as flood waters receded on the road.
flood situation The situation in central Travancore worsened on 4 August as incessant rains lashed parts of the region after a brief interval, triggering a fresh series of landslides over eastern high-grades and downstream north and upper Kuttanad. With this more villages were submerged.
Due to the torrential rains, all the major rivers, which were slowly returning to their normal course, have once again come in spate and are creating more trouble on the banks. Taking the situation seriously, devotees who arrived at the Pampa-Triveni base camp to participate in the Niraputhri celebrations were banned from climbing the holy hill after 3 pm.
Traffic was disrupted in many parts of the area, including the Pala-Erattupeta road, as flood waters receded on the road.
Landslides were reported from Kootikal, Vagamon along the Angamuzhi-Vandiperiyar road in Pathanamthitta and Kodunga near Aranmudi. Pulkayar river, a tributary of Manimala river originating from Vagamon hills, breached its banks in the morning with heavy inflow of flood waters, raising suspicion of a major landslide near Mukulam.
Meenachil, which has been flowing in full boom, broke its banks at several points including Takeoyi and Cheripad. The water level in the Muvattupuzha river rose to 10.605 metres, while the flood alert level was 10.014 metres.
The number of relief camps opened in Kottayam rose to 45, which together house 1075 people from 351 families. More families from lower western parts of the region, including Kottayam, are being shifted to safer places after flood waters receded from the upper areas.
Preliminary assessment by officials has estimated a loss of ₹49.05 lakh to the primary sector in Kottayam from July 28. Meanwhile, a road collapsed near Keezhadiyur Co-operative Bank near Pala town due to incessant rains.
Situation remains critical in Pathanamthitta
The situation in Pathanamthitta was not better as more families from the upper Kuttanad region were shifted to relief camps. The officials also rescued 19 cattle from Kadapara and shifted them to a camp opened by the Animal Husbandry Department.
In view of the rising water level in the rivers, the Pathanamthitta district collector has directed immediate evacuation of people living on the banks of Pampa, Manimala and Achencoil rivers.
Flood waters flowing through Pampa also took over the caretaker at Arayanjilimon for the second time in a few days, while the path of Kurubanmuzhi over the Perumathenaruvi Falls remained submerged for days on end. The river-ghat at Aranmula Sathram, which hosted the famous Aranmula Vallasadya during the day, also remained in the deluge.
The water level continues to rise in the western part of the district, leaving several villages in Upper Kuttanad isolated. The area has been badly affected by continuous water logging, resulting in damage to property and crops.
Water levels in Pampa and Kakki reservoirs – the two major dams in Pathanamthitta, remained at satisfactory levels, while the gates of the Moozhiyar and Maniyar dams have been opened.
In view of the possibility of more rain in the entire region, the authorities have issued a red alert for both the districts of Kottayam and Pathanamthitta.