Kerala Floods: PM Modi Speaks To CM Pinarayi Vijayan As Death Toll Due To Heavy Rains, Landslides Rises To 21

Kerala Floods: PM Narendra Modi wrote that he is praying for “everyone’s safety and well-being”. Meanwhile, the death toll due to heavy rains and landslides in Kerala stands at 21.

Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Kerala Fire and Rescue personnel during rescue operations at the site of landslide at Kavali in Kottayam district, Sunday, Oct 17, 2021. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as the toll from disastrous flooding caused by heavy rains and landslides in hilly areas of two central districts rose to 21.

The death toll due to heavy rains and landslides in Kerala stands at 21 (Kottayam - 13 and Idukki - 8), Kerala’s Information & Public Relations Department informed, as reported by news agency ANI.

PM Narendra Modi took to Twitter and wrote: “Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the situation in the wake of heavy rains and landslides in Kerala. Authorities are working on the ground to assist the injured and affected. I pray for everyone’s safety and well-being”.

“It is saddening that some people have lost their lives due to heavy rains and landslides in Kerala. Condolences to the bereaved families,” he added.

It is saddening that some people have lost their lives due to heavy rains and landslides in Kerala. Condolences to the bereaved families.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 17, 2021

The death toll reached 21 as rescue workers recovered more bodies from the rubbles on Sunday.

On Saturday, State Revenue Minister K Rajan said that the rescue workers had recovered 15 bodies from the debris and slush of the landslides that had hit various places of the Idukki and Kottayam districts.

“The rescue workers have recovered 15 bodies till now. This includes 12 bodies from Koottickal in Kottayam, one body from Peerumedu, and two which were recovered yesterday from Kanjar in Idukki district,” Rajan had told news agency PTI.

Kerala Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan, who visited Kokkayar and Koottickal, alleged that the state government failed to launch rescue operations in time in the affected areas.

A family of six including a 40-year-old man, his 75-year-old mother, 35-year-old wife, and three girl children aged 14, 12, and 10 were killed at Koottickal in Kottayam district as their house was swept away in the landslide.

Meanwhile, the heavy rains have subdued a day after they wreaked havoc in the state.

IMD Forecast & Relief Work

In its forecast, India Meteorological Department stated that yesterday’s Low-pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Kerala has become less marked and now seen as a trough from south Interior Karnataka to south Tamil Nadu at lower levels.

“Under its influence, isolated heavy rainfall very likely over Kerala and Mahe on 17th October 2021 and significant reduction thereafter,” it informed.

Thereafter, a fresh spell of the easterly wave is likely to affect south Peninsular India from October 20 and cause fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls likely over Kerala from October 20 and likely to continue for subsequent 3-4 days, it added.

State Revenue Minister K Rajan, before leaving for Kokkayar in Idukki to coordinate the rescue mission, informed the rescue operations are going on at various places as the rains have subdued in the state.

Earlier, an Army team had arrived at the affected sites and launched a search operation for the missing persons.

A Navy chopper also reached the affected areas with relief materials. It was informed that the Navy helicopter has been deployed to distribute food kits and other essential materials in areas of Koottickal and Kokkayar where landslides have occurred.

CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday urged the people of Kerala to exercise extreme caution even as the weatherman has withdrawn Red and Orange alerts for the south-central districts of the state and asked the public to follow the instructions of the authorities.

“The weatherman has warned about strong wind and lightning till today evening. Currently, the depression, formed in the Arabian sea, has weakened. However, there are chances that it will rain till evening. Yellow Alert has been issued by the IMD for the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode,” CM P Vijayan wrote in a Facebook post, as quoted by PTI.

He also informed that across the state 105 relief camps have been opened and more camps will be set up if needed.

“NDRF teams have been deployed to Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram districts. Directions have been issued to deploy five additional teams to Idukki, Kottayam, Kollam, Kannur, and Palakkad districts. Two choppers of the Air Force from Coimbatore have reached Thiruvananthapuram,” the Chief Minister added.

In an early morning operation, NDRF teams have rescued nearly 80 people who were stranded in waterlogged areas of Pathanamthitta district, PTI reported.

Weather officials had informed that Peerumedu in the hill district of Idukki received 24 cm rains till 5.30 PM on Saturday.

Automatic weather stations in North Paravur reported 38mm rains, Muvattupuzha (89.5mm), Palluruthy (34 mm) and Neeleswaram in Northern Kerala district had received 125.5mm of rain till 8.30 PM on Saturday, they added.

(With Inputs From Agencies)