6 years ago
Kochi/New Delhi:
Sixty-seven people are dead in the Kerala flood, 25 in just the last 24 hours as the rain fury continues. A red alert on Kerala weather was issued across the state in what has turned out to be the state's worst monsoon in almost a century. The Kerala rain has also forced the administration to shut down the Kochi airport, the state's busiest, as it braces for more rain. The army, the navy, the NDRF and other forces are on a war-footing with the rescue and relief operations. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday sent an SOS to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his counterpart in Tamil Nadu E Palaniswami on the rising water level in the Mullaperiyar Dam.
Here are the updates on Kerala floods and weather:
More than 25 trains were cancelled or rescheduled in Kerala today in view of the unprecedented floods and landslides in the state, the Southern Railway said today.
30 people have died today as of now in the floods taking the death toll to 97.
The Kochi international airport will remain closed for operation till August 26 morning in the wake of torrential rains, the Civil Aviation Ministry today said. Kochi airport has been hit by incessant rains which have wreaked havoc in Kerala. According to an earlier announcement, operations at the airport had been suspended up to the afternoon of August 16.
With massive rains continuing to bombard Kerala, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi has announced that her organisation will donate Rs. 10 crores to the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.
Kerala flood toll hits 86 in 'extremely grave' crisis: officials told news agency AFP
23 more disaster relief teams have been sent to Kerala reported PTI.
Authorities told AFP many people were trapped inside their houses. More than 60,000 people have sought refuge in relief camps.
State authorities said the confirmed death toll was 72 but officials and media reports said up to 30 more people were feared dead Thursday in landslides and as rivers burst their banks, flooding scores of villages.
Cochin airport has been flooded as well. Here are some pictures:
Rescue operations carried out with help of 44 Army & Navy boats and more than 20 naval diving teams. Additional 20 boats have been rushed to flood hit Kerala.
Request of Kerala for additional resources like motorized and non-motorized boats, life jackets, raincoats, gumboots etc, catered to on priority.
A number of helicopters have been deployed for relief operations. More than 340 passengers and 14.5 T load has been carried by IAF aircrafts.
Road connectivity restored at 18 locations including construction of 11 temporary bridges by Army columns, defence spokesperson confirmed on Twitter.
Rescue operations are on in Kerala with a number of helicopters helping in the evacuation. Watch here:
#WATCH: Rescue operations held by Coast Guard helicopters over Ernakulam, earlier today. 132 people have been rescued from Thrissur, Aluva & Perumbavoor by Coast Guard helicopters today. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/JqJ0dsbSPs
- ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2018
45 persons stranded due to incessant rains were rescued from Machilipatnam by three teams of Indian Navy deployed at Perumbavoor, yesterday.
Supreme Court says both Kerala and Tamil Nadu must work together in harmony to fight the floods. The top court also directed the centre to convene a meeting of National Crisis Management committee. It is to meet tomorrow. The top court also directed the panel to consider reducing water level from 142 ft to 139 ft so that people living downstream don't live in fear.
The Supreme Court has called as "grave" the flood situation in Kerala, and told the states and the centre not to treat the issue as "adversarial", news agency Press Trust of India reported.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced assistance of Rs 5 crore for relief and restoration of the damage caused by floods in Kerala and expressed solidarity with those affected by the extreme weather event.
Kerala floods: "Kerala is in great pain. I spoke to PM and requested him to massively increase deployment of the Army and Navy. I also said that it is critical that he gives the state special financial assistance as this is a tragedy without parallel in Kerala's history," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
Kerala floods: "A Control Room has been set up at DGCA Headquarters, New Delhi, which is being manned 24x7 since 15th August, 2018 night to address issues due to suspension of flight operations to/from Cochin airport. We are constantly monitoring the situation and taking all necessary actions," union minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted.
"The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the domestic airlines will be extending full support to the State Government of Kerala in airlifting food items and other relief material free of cost on their scheduled services, subject only to operational constraints, if any," union minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted.
Kerala floods: Two children die in wall collapse in Oorkadavu, heavy rain continues in Kozhikode district.
#KeralaFloods | List of helpline numbers in various districts of Kerala.
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 16, 2018
25 people died due to floods and landslides on Wednesday alone, taking the number of dead to 67. A rainfall red alert has been issued across Kerala.
Follow updates: https://t.co/W6FaGG84aE pic.twitter.com/U1UU6LaBFG
Kerala floods: "Heavy to very heavy rain at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Coastal Karnataka; heavy rain at a few places with very heavy rain at isolated places very likely over Kerala," the India Meteorological Department has said.
Kerala floods: "Had a telephonic conversation with Kerala Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan regrading the prevailing flood situation in the state. The Centre is rushing additional NDRF teams to Kerala. We are providing all possible assistance. I am in constant touch with Kerala CM," Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.
Kerala floods: 82 tourists stranded inside a bus in Munnar. All routes are either flooded, or blocked due to mudslides, news agency ANI reported.
Kerala floods: The Kerala chief minister has requested for more boats. "Have instructed Def. Secretary to respond immediately. Awaiting the list from Chief Secretary, Kerala. There shall be no delay from our side. Additional Indian Air Force helicopters being deployed," Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted.
#Kerala helpline numbers . Many saying can't get through. But still. @ndtv #KeralaFloods2018 #Kerala pic.twitter.com/J3qI8FkCdf
- Sneha Koshy (@SnehaMKoshy) August 15, 2018
#KeralaFloods2018 update. Further augmenting the Rescue & Relief efforts @IndiaCoastGuard mobilized the available resources & deployed 06 teams with Gemini Boats across the flood hit areas of #Ernakulam #Kerala this morning for helping the affected people @DefenceMinIndia pic.twitter.com/HikozY4ZEo
- Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) August 16, 2018
Kerala floods: Due to heavy rain, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation bus services stopped from Chamarajanagar district for Tamil Nadu's Ooty and Kerala's Kochi.
Kerala floods: "Considering the current situation in Kochi, we've extended the waiver on penalties for date/flight change, refund, no-show and fare difference if any, on all confirmed tickets for flights operating to and from Kochi up to 18th August 2018," Jet Airways said in a statement.
Kerala floods: Landslides have been reported from several parts of Kerala. Relief workers camps are working round the clock to keep camps running smoothly.
I am deeply concerned for the people of #Kerala tonight, as the flood waters rise. Thousands are stranded. Relief camps full. Many have lost their loved ones. It's time to step up & help. Please contribute generously to the CM's relief fund. Use this link: https://t.co/GNUlGQbBZv pic.twitter.com/Gm5QGifSms
- Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 15, 2018
Kerala floods: On the seventh day of Operation Madad, Southern Naval Command deployed 21 rescue and diving teams with Gemini boats in flood-hit Kerala as the monsoon has intensified in the state.
The Kochi Metro has stopped its services from this morning after its yard in Muttom near Aluva submerged in the flood waters. "Kochi Metro train operation is suspended as the water level rises in Muttom yard area," a Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) statement said.
The service will be resumed once the water comes down and the systems are back in good condition, its spokesperson said.
