Kerala Floods

Expect Wayanad relief; Gadgil, Kasturirangan reports impractical: Vijayan

The Kerala government has sought a Rs 2,000 crore relief package from the Centre for the unprecedented devastation that occurred in Wayanad recently and is hopeful of getting "good assistance", Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said here. He also dismissed as "not pragmatic" the recommendations made by the Madhav Gadgil and Kasturirangan committees on ecologically sensitive areas of the Western Ghats, saying the panels did not consider the societal expectations and ground realities in his state. Speaking to PTI this weekend during an interview on the Wayanad landslides, the chief minister said the state government has decided to construct new townships for the families of the victims and the survivors of the unprecedented devastation "within a year" and these dwellings would be "climate-resilient and sustainable". Vijayan said the state sought a disaster relief package of about Rs 2,000 crore from the Centre when he recently met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. The PM was

Nation sad over Wayanad landslides, but time to move forward: CM Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that while everyone in the country was sad regarding the Wayanad landslides that claimed over 200 lives, it was time to live and move forward for the survival of the state. Vijayan, speaking after hoisting the national flag at the Central Stadium here on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day of the country, also said that even as India excelled in various sectors since its independence in 1947, the scientific awareness in the country was being damaged and superstitions, harmful customs, and outdated rituals were making a comeback. Referring to the landslides in Wayanad, the CM said that Kerala and the country were celebrating the independence day in a time of grief following the disaster. "But, we cannot remain sad. We need to live and move forward for the survival of the state. So, the independence day, this year, should give impetus to the joint activities that ensure the state's survival," he said. The Marxist veteran a

Wayanad landslide: Relief efforts get tech boost from Kochi- based company

In a heartening display of social responsibility, a Kochi-based user-interface software development company, has lent its expertise to streamline relief efforts for landslide survivors in Wayanad in Kerala. Rajith Ramachandran, co-founder of Faircode Infotech, and his team have volunteered their services to create a robust inventory management system at the relief material collection centre set up at St Joseph's Higher Secondary School. The innovative solution has greatly eased the task of revenue officials, who were struggling to keep track of the pouring in relief materials. With the new system in place, officials can now ensure timely and efficient distribution of aid to the affected families. "We contacted the deputy Collector, Wayanad, on July 31 and she happily welcomed us. Our ERP software has made life easier for us," Rajith told PTI. Rajith's team trained 10 revenue department officials, and they learnt the nuances of the job quicker. "We have only taken the inventory ..

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Actor Mohanlal reaches Wayanad, pledges Rs 3 cr for rehabilitation works

Well-known actor Mohanlal, who is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Territorial Army, on Saturday reached landslide-hit Wayanad, donning his army uniform and pledged Rs three crore for the rehabilitation works of the disaster-hit region. The actor, who reached the Army camp at Meppadi, held a brief discussion with the officers and left for the landslide-hit zone along with others. He visited Chooralmala, Mundakkai and Punchirimattom, among other places, and interacted with the various rescue workers, including the Army and the locals, to get an understanding of the gravity of the incident. Speaking to the media, Mohanlal said the magnitude of the disaster can only be understood by witnessing it firsthand. "The magnitude of the landslide can only be comprehended by witnessing it firsthand. The Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the NDRF, the Fire and Rescue, the other organisations, locals etc who all are part of the rescue operations have done a wonderful job," he said. The acto

Kerala landslides: Autopsy count mounts as doctors battle to save survivors

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, are working round the clock in Kerala's landslide-affected Wayanad, grappling with a distressing situation that involves providing critical care to severely injured survivors and performing autopsies on the remains of victims claimed by the catastrophic event. "Until 7 am today, we have completed 256 autopsies, which include body parts as well. So, it's not 256 full bodies, but also includes body parts. We have handed over 154 bodies to the district administration," said State Health Minister Veena George. She explained that autopsies have been performed on bodies that were swept away by the river and recovered from the Pothukal area in Malappuram district. Speaking about the traumatic situations faced by health workers, the minister revealed that over 100 autopsies were performed on Wednesday night. "It's quite unfortunate. Last night, we performed 112 autopsies, I think. I saw a health worker there, and she was crying. She hadn'

Search ops underway at Mundakkai, number of missing unknown: Minister

As a massive search operation is underway at Mundakkai region in landslide-hit Wayanad with a team of over 3,000 rescue workers, the authorities and locals are still grappling to determine the exact number of people missing. According to the state government, the toll has gone up to 173 while an estimated number of 191 people are missing, though official sources indicate that the actual number may be much higher. The rescue operators are contending with adverse conditions, including muddy soil and rain, as they search through destroyed homes and buildings. State Revenue Minister K Rajan, who is in the disaster-struck region, coordinating the rescue efforts, told the media that the authorities are yet to finalise the number of missing people. "Initially, we used the voter list to identify the missing persons. But since it does not contain the details of the children, we are now relying on ration cards and other details. We are trying to identify the missing people by checking the ..

100 bodies recovered: Major General VT Mathew on Wayanad landslide

Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that the Kerala government could have minimised the losses in Wayanad, the Kerala Health Minister called it "unfortunate"

Kerala landslides: CM Pinarayi Vijayan to chair all-party meet in Wayanad

An all-party meeting, chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, will be held in the hill district on Thursday as search and rescue operations by various agencies and armed forces continue in the landslides-hit areas here. State ministers camping in the district, MLAs from Wayanad and political party leaders will participate in the meeting, the district administration said. Besides the all-party meet, Congress leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are expected to visit the relief camps set up in the landslides-hit areas of the district, according to a statement issued by the party. According to the updates of the death toll on Wednesday night, 167 people have died and 191 are missing in the landslides with over 200 injured. Of the dead, 100 have been identified, the district administration said. The rescue operations continued on the third day with teams of the army, navy and coast guard carrying out a detailed search at three locati

Kerala expects heavy rains in next few days, IMD issues alert

The India Meteorological Department on Friday said Kerala will receive heavy to very heavy rains in the next few days due to weather conditions and wind patterns prevailing over peninsular India. The IMD said that a low pressure trough located from north Kerala coast to south Gujarat coast, another well marked low pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal and the strong westerly/ northwesterly winds along the Kerala coast would result in moderate to heavy rains in the southern state for the next five days. The IMD also issued an orange alert in the four northern Kerala districts of Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod for the day and a yellow alert in five other districts. An orange alert means very heavy rain (6 cm to 20 cm). A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 to 11 cm. Heavy rains in the state, especially in the northern Malabar region, caused flooding, uprooting of trees, minor landslides and traffic snarls. In Wayanad, due to flooding of the Muthanga National .

Heavy rains prompt warnings, travel bans in many Kerala districts

As rains lashed many parts of Kerala, authorities on Sunday urged people, particularly those living in hilly and coastal areas, to exercise vigil. The Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Idukki districts for Sunday and Monday, and sounded orange alerts for four other districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam, for these days. The Met office predicted thunderstorms with moderate rainfall and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 km/h at one or two places in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kasaragod districts of Kerala till 1 pm on Sunday. The Idukki District Collector has ordered a ban on night travel through the hilly areas of the district from Sunday until the red and orange alerts are withdrawn. "Strict instructions have been issued to the District Superintendent of Police, Sub Divisional Magistrates, Regional Transport Officers, and Tehsildars t

Kerala rains: Schools and colleges closed in multiple districts today

On Friday, July 7, the respective district collectors informed various educational institutions in Kottayam, Kannur, and Kasaragod to remain closed due to heavy rainfall in several parts of the state

Centre to launch digital locker facility in flood-prone Kerala villages

Two flood-prone village panchayats in Kerala are getting ready to go the tech way and implement digital locker facility for people for the safe upkeep of their valuable documents

'Flood tourism' will not be permitted: Kerala Minister

As rains continued in Kerala, state Revenue Minister K Rajan said that people should strictly avoid going to areas which are flooded as part of a growing trend of "flood tourism".

Explained: Why early warning systems for floods and cyclones fall short

Lack of scientific data on the effectiveness of warning systems and lack of localised action plans to follow warnings, are some issues that plague India's Early Warning Systems

Kerala rains: Orange alert in 4 districts, yellow alert in 8 others

The IMD at 4 pm issued orange alert for the day in the northern Kerala districts of Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod

Heavy rains to continue in Kerala over the weekend; 2 dams opened

Atleast 10 districts in Kerala will receive heavy rainfall on Saturday and Sunday with the IMD issuing a Yellow alert

As Kerala floods claim 20 lives, eco expert says it's an 'invited disaster'

These disasters were caused due to higher economic activities like rock quarrying, construction of new buildings and roads and destruction of natural forest, says Madhav Gadgil

Flood-affected Kerala to witness rains for 3-4 days more, says IMD

There were extreme floods in at least three districts of Kerala, heavy to very heavy rainfall in eastern states, and moderate to heavy rainfall in several states of northwest India on Sunday

Flash floods, landslides in Kerala caused by Mini cloudburst events: Expert

The brief, intense rain spells in a couple of regions in Kerala indicated mini cloudbursts, a factor that also led to casualties, damage and loss of properties, a scientist at CUSAT claimed