Ten spillway shutters of Mullaperiyar dam, four shutters of Malampuzha dam and three shutters of Thenmala dam were opened on Friday.
Ten spillway shutters of Mullaperiyar dam, four shutters of Malampuzha dam and three shutters of Thenmala dam were opened on Friday.
Most of the districts recorded a significant reduction in the intensity of rain on Friday, but the state remained on alert as the rain forecast warned of isolated heavy rains in some districts over the weekend.
Water Resources Minister Roshi Augustine’s office said ten spillway shutters of Mullaperiyar dam, four shutters of Malampuzha dam and three shutters of Thenmala dam were opened on Friday. The water level of Mullaperiyar Dam is 137.75 feet.
No death was reported during the day in rain-related incidents.
declared holiday
Saturday has been declared a holiday in educational institutions of Alappuzha district. The Pathanamthitta district administration has declared a holiday for educational institutions where relief camps have been opened.
Till Friday, 12,195 people, including 2,087 children, were housed in 342 camps in different districts. Four houses were destroyed and 46 houses were damaged.
Eleven teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in different districts, while an Army contingent and two Defense Security Corps teams are on standby.
An update from the India Meteorological Department indicated that intense rainfall activity is likely to continue over Kerala for two more days. The Cyclonic Circulation lies over North Coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining Bay of Bengal and Central parts of Karnataka. Four districts – Idukki, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod – are on yellow alert for heavy rain (6.4 cm to 11.5 cm in a 24-hour period) separately on Saturday and Sunday.
A low pressure area is very likely to form over northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal around August 7. An extended range forecast from the IMD pointed to the possibility of another low pressure area in the Gulf region around August. 13 or 14.
crop loss
Heavy rains in the past few days have destroyed agricultural crops in 2,755.81 hectares across the state, affecting 26,059 farmers, according to the crop loss report prepared by the agriculture department.
The loss was recorded during the period 31 July to 5 August, and the estimated loss is ₹73.44 crore. According to the report, Ernakulam has suffered the most. The loss in the district has been estimated at Rs 18.08 crore.
The greatest damage to crops occurred in plantations of banana, vegetables (including cool season vegetables), tapioca, paddy, coconut, cardamom and rubber.
The Animal Husbandry Department has estimated a loss of Rs 42.85 lakh to the region. A total of 574 animals have been shifted to 40 camps. Animal Husbandry Minister J. Chinchurani said that his department has proposed to the Disaster Management Department to provide compensation to the farmers.