Kerala Rains: Death Toll Rises To 44; CM Pinarayi Vijayan Asks Tamil Nadu To Reduce Water-Level Of Mullaperiyar Dam
Heavy and incessant rains lashed Kerala resulting in the death of 44 people. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert in all the districts of the state.
Thiruvananthapuram, August 15: Heavy and incessant rains lashed Kerala resulting in the death of 44 people. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert in all the districts of the state. Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has communicated to Tamil Nadu CM E.K. Palaniswami demanding his intervention to reduce the water level of Mullaperiyar Dam to 139 feet. The water level in Mullaperiyar Dam has reached 142 feet.
Rescue operations are underway in the worst-hit districts of Wayanad, Kochi's Muppathadam, Ernakulam, Idukki and other districts. The operations of Kochi International Airport (COK) has been temporarily suspended till 18th August, Saturday, 2 PM due to the heavy rains and floods. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has also cancelled its premium services between Bengaluru and Mangalore. The services will not operate in Subramanya, Dharmasthala and Kundapur, only express service (Karnataka Sarige) buses will be running via Charmadi to Mangaluru.
The holy Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala has also been temporarily closed for pilgrims following the flooding of the Pampa Triveni bridge. The state government also decided not to celebrate ‘Onam’ because of destruction caused due to floods. According to reports, 17,974 people have been shifted to 117 relief camps in Ernakulam district due to heavy rainfall in Kerala. The floods have displaced more than 30,000 people. The Indian Army, Navy, National Disaster and Response Force (NDRF) have already started rescue operations.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 15, 2018 10:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).