Fresh rain, landslides batter Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 18 

Thousands of people stranded in isolated buildings and rooftops in flood-hit Kerala were rescued today, even as rains and fresh landslides were reported in some places as the toll touched 194 in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8.

A large number of people, including senior citizens, women and children were airlifted from isolated buildings, while many others were evacuated in army boats, large fishing vessels and makeshift yachts, official sources said.

Packed house boats and rafts moving through inundated roads could be seen in all the flood-hit regions of the state. However, people in worst-hit places like Pathanamthitta and Chengannur said that hundreds were yet to be evacuated.

In many places, the local people were in the forefront of the evacuation along with defence and NDRF personnel. Lack of information about the isolated areas and houses, where a large number of people are believed to be stuck, is a worrying factor for rescuers, official sources said. Over 54,000 people were rescued in Ernakulam district, mainly in Paravur and Aluva taluks, which had witnessed heavy rains and severe water logging in the past two days. Over 600 students, who were stranded in a building at the campus of Sree Sankaracharya University at Kalady near Kochi, since the past two days, were rescued today, they said. According to Navy sources, two sets of siblings from Kalady were rescued and brought to the naval base in Kochi and are waiting to join their parents. Local leaders said thousands of people are stuck in Paravur region of Ernakulam district.

With several people yet to be rescued, authorities today issued orders to release private boats and school buses for rescue operations. Fishing boats are already being used for the mission.

The plantation town of Nelliyampathy in the battered Palakkad district is fully cut off as a bridge was washed away and massive boulders fell on a main road in incessant rains and landslides.

Huge granite blocks, which had fallen from atop mountains, could be seen perched precariously amidst gushing flood waters.  Fresh landslides were also reported in high-range Idukki. — PTI

Devastating deluge 

More than 357 persons have lost their lives since monsoon fury hit Kerala on May 29, in one of the worst floods the state has seen in over a century

58 teams, NDRF’s biggest-ever op    

• NDRF has evacuated over 10,000 people from flood-affected Kerala in its biggest-ever relief and rescue operation in the country to date 
• While 55 NDRF teams are already operational, three teams are on their way to join the rescue 
• This is the highest-ever NDRF deployment in a single state since its raising, a spokesperson said
• A 24x7 NDRF control room is monitoring the situation and is in touch with other agencies

UAE PM: Kerala part of our success story 

Dubai: The UAE PM and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has come out in support for deluge-hit Kerala and ordered the formation of an emergency committee to provide relief to the victims hit by devastating rains and floods in the state. 

In a series of tweets in English as well as in Malayalam on Friday, he said, "The people of Kerala have always been and are still part of our success story in the UAE. We have a special responsibility to help and support those affected.” PTI