Torrential rain in Kerala’s Kumily: Scooter rider killed in mudslide accident; homes submerged | VIDEO
Idukki: Heavy rain continues across the district. Since Saturday night, Kumily has been experiencing extremely intense rainfall. Amid this downpour, a man died after his scooter crashed into a mudslide that had fallen onto the road. The deceased has been identified as Thankachan from Parappilliveettil. The accident occurred around midnight on Saturday at Vellaramkunnu along the Kumily–Anavilasam road.
The rain began around 7 pm on Saturday in the Kumily region. The accident happened while Thankachan was returning home after closing his shop. Due to poor visibility caused by the rain, the scooter hit rocks and mud that had fallen onto the road. Reports say his head was buried under the mud. His body has been moved to Kattappana Government Hospital.
Flooding in homes across Kumily
Widespread damage was reported in Kumily and surrounding areas due to the heavy rainfall. Water entered several homes and shops. A four-member family trapped inside their house was heroically rescued by locals and the police. Areas including Kumily town, the Holiday Home vicinity, Valiyakandam, Onnam Mile and Periyar Colony saw severe flooding and property damage.
At around 11 pm, Kannan, his wife Sheena and their children Ananya and Ameya, were stranded inside their home near the Holiday Home area. Locals and the Kumily police conducted a daring rope-assisted rescue to move all four to a safe location. In many areas, road traffic was disrupted.
Mullaperiyar dam opened
Heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the Mullaperiyar dam led to a rise in water levels above the rule curve. As a result, water was released into the Periyar River through the dam’s spillway shutters. Over a 10-hour period, the water level rose by more than six feet. This is the second time the dam has been opened this year. According to the current rule curve, the dam can store water up to 137.75 feet.
On Friday morning, the level was 132 feet. By 11.30 pm, the inflow had reached 41,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs). All 13 spillway shutters were raised by one metre on Saturday, releasing 7,305 cusecs of water.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department informed that all the 13 surplus shutters of Periyar dam will be raised from 1.00m to 1.50m by 9.00 am on Sunday. Present discharge is recorded at 9403 cusecs, while targeted discharge is 10178 cusec of water, the intimation added.
No need to open Idukki dam
Although Mullaperiyar was opened, there is no cause for concern regarding the Idukki Dam. The inflow can still be safely stored. The dam's maximum capacity is 2,408.5 feet, and currently, it holds 2,381.82 feet of water.
Alerts issued: Risk of flash floods and lightning
Due to a deep depression near the Kerala coast in the Arabian Sea and another expected to form in the Bay of Bengal, Kerala is likely to see extremely heavy rain. There is also a possibility of lightning-triggered flash floods.
An orange alert has been issued for Sunday in the districts of Malappuram, Kannur, Kozhikode, Kasaragod and Lakshadweep. A yellow alert is in place for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad and Wayanad.