Kerala rains: House swept away by overflowing river in Kottayam's Mundakayam

So far, 22 persons have died in the heavy rains and subsequent landslides

An entire house in Kottayam district's Mundakayam was washed away by strong currents of an overflowing river on Sunday during the heavy rains that triggered landslides in two districts and left 22 people dead.

The video of the incident, published by news agency ANI was one of many gut-wrenching moments that took place in Idukki and Kottayam districts in Kerala.

Of the 22 casualties so far, 13 were from Kottayam district, while 9 were from Idukki.

The casualties occurred on Saturday due to landslides and flash floods in the hilly areas of Kottayam and Idukki districts following heavy rains, officials said. In the high range Idukki district, where a travel ban is in place due to inclement weather, District Collector Sheeba George said two persons are still missing. "Till now, we have recovered nine bodies. Two people are missing," she said.

Also Read | Interaction of two low-pressure weather systems, not cloudburst, led to heavy rains in Kerala: IMD

PM Modi called Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and discussed the situation arising out of the rains.

In its forecast, India Meteorological Department said Saturday’s Low pressure area over 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. "Under its influence, isolated heavy rainfall is very likely over Kerala and Mahe on 17th October 2021 and significant reduction thereafter," it said.

Thereafter, 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 added.

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) informed that it has incurred an estimated loss of Rs 13.67 crore due to the downpour in the state. "The most damage happened in Pathanamthitta, Pala and Thodupuzha circles.

Also Read | Heart-wrenching sight as bodies of mother, child hugging recovered beneath landslide debris in Kerala

A total of 3,074 distribution transformers stopped functioning out of which 60 were totally destroyed. 339 hi-tension posts were destroyed, 1398 low-tension posts damaged and 4.18 lakh electricity connections got snapped," KSEB said in a release.

The higher education department in the state informed that all the exams scheduled to be held tomorrow have been postponed while the classes that were scheduled to begin from October 18 have been postponed to October 20.

Culture Minister Saji Cheriyan said families residing in the low-lying areas of Chengannur and Kuttanad areas have been shifted to relief camps as water from Pamba and Achankovil rivers began rising due to heavy rains in the eastern part of the state.

The Central Water Commission has issued an Orange alert for Manimala, Kallada, Achankovil, Neyyar and Karamana rivers of the state. The IMD has withdrawn the red alert and currently, there is a Yellow alert sounded for the south-central districts of the state.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said incessant rains are continuing at Thrissur, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts.

"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," he said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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