Monday, 18 October 2021 | PNS | New Delhi
Military, NDRF out; PM assures CM of all help
The toll taken by heavy rain, flooding, and landslides rose to 26 in Kerala on Sunday even as hundreds of personnel from the Army, Navy, the Indian Air Force (IAF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the local administration were trying to save lives and ferry trapped people to safety.
The State Revenue Minister K Rajan said the rescue workers have recovered 15 bodies from the debris and slush of the landslides that had hit various places in Idukki and Kottayam districts on Saturday.
“The rescue workers have recovered 15 bodies till now. This includes 12 bodies from Koottickal in Kottayam, one body from Peerumedu, and two which were recovered yesterday from Kanjar in Idukki district,” Rajan told PTI.
Idukki District Collector Sheeba George said three bodies were recovered from Kokkayar in Idukki district on Sunday, a hilly region that was heavily hit by Saturday’s devastating landslides.
“The search is on for five missing people,” she said. Officials said the bodies of three children buried under slush were recovered after intense rescue efforts. The children, aged eight, seven and four, were found holding on to each other, officials said.
While the Army, Navy and the IAF have stepped in to help the civil administration, the NDRF has decided to deploy 11 teams to carry out rescue operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Pinarayi Vijayan and offered all possible help from the Centre to tackle the devastation.
“Spoke to Kerala CM Shri @vijayanpinarayi and discussed the situation in the wake of heavy rains and landslides in Kerala. Authorities are working on the ground to assist the injured and affected,” Modi tweeted. “I pray for everyone’s safety and well-being,” he said.
Expressing his condolence to the bereaved families, he said, “It is saddening that some people have lost their lives due to heavy rains and landslides in Kerala. Condolences to the bereaved families.”
The Union Home Ministry is also monitoring the situation and extending its help in accelerating rescue operation. “We are continuously monitoring the situation in parts of Kerala in the wake of heavy rainfall and flooding. The Central Government will provide all possible support to help people in need. NDRF teams have already been sent to assist the rescue operations. Praying for everyone’s safety,” Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted.
At Koottickal in Kottayam district, a family of six including a 40-year-old man, his 75-year-old mother, 35-year-old wife and three girl children aged 14, 12 and 10 were killed as their house was swept away in the landslide.
Bodies of three were recovered on Saturday and remaining bodies were found by the rescuers during their efforts on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the heavy rains subdued a day after it wreaked havoc in the State.
In its forecast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Saturday’s low pressure area over the southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Kerala has become less marked and now seen as a trough from south interior Karnataka to south Tamil Nadu at lower levels.
A fresh spell of easterly wave is likely to affect south Peninsular India from October 20 and cause fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls likely over Kerala from October 20 and likely to continue for subsequent 3-4 days, it said.
Before leaving for Kokkayar in Idukki to coordinate rescue mission, Minister Rajan said the rescue operations are going on at various places as the rains have subdued in the State.
Earlier, an Army team had arrived at the tragedy hit sites and launched a search operation for the missing persons.
“A few people are still stranded as per local sources. At present no rains however heavily overcast. Madras Regiment from Pangode Military Station commenced the rescue operation at Kavali Village 4 km away from Koottickal, Kottayam District,” a Defence spokesperson said.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday urged the people to exercise extreme caution even as the weatherman has withdrawn Red and Orange alerts for the south-central districts of the State and asked the public to follow the instructions of the authorities.
“The weatherman has warned about strong wind and lightning till today evening. Currently, the depression, formed in the Arabian sea, has weakened. However, there are chances that it will rain till evening. Yellow Alert has been issued by the IMD for the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode,” Vijayan said in a Facebook post.
He also informed that across the State 105 relief camps have been opened and more camps will be set up if needed.
“NDRF teams have been deployed to Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram districts. Directions have been issued to deploy five additional teams to Idukki, Kottayam, Kollam, Kannur and Palakkad districts. Two choppers of the Air Force from Coimbatore have reached Thiruvananthapuram,” Vijayan said.
A Navy helicopter has been deployed to distribute food kits and other essential materials in areas of Koottickal and Kokkayar where landslides have occurred.
