Rain fury batters Kerala; CM says state ready for ‘emergency’

Thiruvananthapuram: With heavy rain continuing across several parts of Kerala and landslides and mudslides reported from various locations, Chief Minister VD Satheesan said he had spoken over the phone with the Revenue Minister, Chief Secretary and district collectors to assess the situation.

The Chief Minister said the Revenue Minister would coordinate disaster management operations and has convened a meeting of district collectors at 11 am.

He added that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police and other agencies are fully prepared to handle any emergency.

The government has also decided to ensure best possible treatment for the injured and speed up rehabilitation measures.

Heavy rain has caused widespread destruction across the state, with four deaths reported so far. In the landslide at Adoor Mala in Kudayathoor, Sumathi, wife of Ravi Narayanan of Mashikkallel in Ward 7, lost her life. At Kolahalamedu in Vagamon, Prabhakaran Nair (72), a native of Vaikom who was visiting relatives, was killed after a landslide struck a house belonging to Leelamani. In Payyanithottam, Poonjar Thekkekara, Josephine Johny (24) and her mother Regina died after their house collapsed.

Meanwhile, traffic on the Kozhikode-Wayanad National Highway has been completely suspended near Engapuzha due to flooding caused by continuous rain. Authorities have advised people to avoid travel through the area or proceed only with extreme caution.

Vehicles travelling from Wayanad to Kozhikode are being diverted via Kaithapoyil-Knowledge City-Kodenchery, while those travelling from Kozhikode to Wayanad have been asked to use the alternative route via Thamarassery-Koodathai-Mykavu-Kodenchery.