Kerala Rains: This is the worst monsoon that Kerala has seen in over a century.
Since over a week, Kerala has been battered by heavy rain and landslides. The state is witnessing its worst monsoon since over a century in terms of the impact. Kochi airport has suspended all its flight operations till Saturday because of increased water level in the airport area. "Kochi airport operations temporarily suspended till 18th Saturday 2 PM since the inflow of water is still on a raising trend. We are working hard to drain out the storm water. All are requested to co-operate," the airport authorities said in a statement.
Due to the devastating Kerala floods, Onam celebrations have been cancelled. 44 people have died and thousands have been relocated to relief camps. Union Home minister Rajnath Singh aerially surveyed flood-hit Kerala and later Centre announced a Rs 100 crore relief package for the state.
Here are the highlights on Kerala weather:
The number of deaths in rain-related incidents in Kerala has risen to 67, with 25 deaths just today, Chief Minister Painarayi Vijayan has said
The deaths reported on Wednesday included those of five of a family in Malappuram who were crushed when their house collapsed. Three were reported missing, while one child was rescued, reported news agency IANS
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi late Wednesday evening and was assured of all necessary help. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh promised to send more forces to help the state.
In a first, the sluices of 33 dams across Kerala have been opened, following incessant rain since late Tuesday. More rain has been forecast till Saturday.
A red alert was sounded in 11 of the 14 Kerala districts, including Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Pathanamthitta, Kannur and Ernakulam, by Wednesday afternoon, it was extended across the state by the evening hours
The Cochin International Airport Limited, which decided to suspend the arrival operations at 4 am to 7 am today as a precautionary measure, had earlier said the airport would be shut till 2 pm.
Four teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been airlifted from Pune Airport to Kerala for rescue operations.
The Cochin International Airport today suspended all flight operations till Saturday. Chief Minster Pinarayi Vijayan called an urgent meeting at the secretariat and decided to seek permission from the centre to allow small aircraft to land at the naval airport in Kochi.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rain in the state until Saturday, and it has issued a "red alert" for 12 out of its 14 districts.
Major parts remain submerged due to heavy rain and floods. More and more people are pouring into relief camps, including those who had earlier returned to their homes in Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Wayanad districts.
Inundated Trivandrum Cosmo Hospital.
A landslide between Kuzhithurai and Eraniel stations has delayed four trains - Guruvayur-Chennai Egmore express, Kanyakumari-Mumbai CSMT express, Dibugarh-Kanyakumari Vivek Express and Gandhidham-Tirunelveli Humsafar Express, railway sources said.
Rain fury continues unabated in Kerala where 44 people have died. Of the 14 districts in the state, as many as 11 including Idukki, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Pathanamthitta, Kannur and Ernakulam are on red alert.
Heavy rainfall in the state has not only claimed 39 lives but also affected normal life. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Tuesday i
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nformed that as per the preliminary report, the total damage due to floods in the state is estimated to be worth Rs. 8316 crore.
Kerala's Kochi Airport Closed Till Saturday, Runway FloodedKerala's Kochi Airport Closed Till Saturday, Runway FloodedKerala's Kochi Airport Closed Till Saturday, Runway Flooded | NDTV.com Video | Kerala's Kochi airport extended is suspension of all flight operations till Saturday afternoon following huge waterlogging around the airport. Flights are being diverted to other airports. The torrential rainfall, which has forced the state's reservoirs to release excess water causing flooding and landslides, was expected to stop today. But the Met office has said it is likely to continue till Saturday. A red alert has been issued for several districts today and tomorrow. Forty two people have died since August 8 in incidents related to what has turned out to be the state's worst monsoon in almost a century."
The Cochi Airport runway and the parking flooded. In addition, heavy rainfall affects train services with many being suspended and delayed.
In his address to the nation on the 72nd Independence Day at Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sympathized with the victims in the flood-hit state. He said," Many parts of the nation witnessed good monsoon but at the same time parts of India have been severely hit by floods. My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives in these floods, in various parts of India."
India Meteorological Department has issued red alert for Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasargode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Idukki and Ernakulam Districts till tomorrow, according to news agency ANI. Most of the areas are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall.