Several reservoirs have reached the red alert mark since Monday following unusual, intense rain.
Thiruvananthapuram:
Kerala’s lessons from the 2018 flood tragedy were heard loudly today as the shutters of the Cherothoni dam of the Idukki reservoir – one of the largest in Asia – were opened. Sirens warned people downstream, even though the amount of water released – 100 cumecs (cubic meters per second) – was limited to just 5 percent compared to then. About 60 families were evacuated from low-lying areas.
According to Kerala State Electricity Board chairman B Ashok, the dam was last opened during the heavy floods of 2018 – the spill was up to 2000 cumecs then.
Shutters of several dams in the state like Idamalayar, Kakki and Sholayar, which are reeling under heavy rains in Kerala, have been opened from tomorrow.
Starting Monday, several reservoirs reached the red alert mark after unusual, intense rainfall – a 135 percent drop from normal rainfall since October 1. The expected rainfall so far for October was around 192.7 mm, but Kerala received 453.5 mm of rain instead
More intense rain – unusual in October – has been predicted for the next two days. Barring Kannur and Kasaragod, twelve districts are on orange alert on Thursday as well. Orange alert, the second highest level, indicates very heavy rainfall.
Yet, with the rains so far, reservoirs are now getting 80 to 100 MCM per day, which is very unusual. Normally it is below 50 mcm.
Chairman B Ashok said, “We have released water very marginally as compared to 2018, so that we can absorb more when there is heavy rain in the catchment areas. A lot has changed in KSEB dam management, emergency action plans after 2018. Has gone.” , KSEB.
Around 150 relief camps are running across Kerala where 4,000 families are housed. The figure is likely to increase.
“My house got slanted after the 2018 floods. That’s our situation. It’s very difficult for us because the water enters the house, can’t sleep peacefully,” said Elle, an evacuation.
The rains and the resulting floods and landslides have claimed 27 lives in the state. Fourteen people have died in Kottayam district, 10 from Idukki district and one each in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kozhikode districts.
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