Once again, severe havoc of nature is being seen in the coastal state of Kerala, South India. Due to continuous torrential rains for the last 48 hours, the situation has become completely out of control in many hilly and low-lying areas of the state. Amidst continuous thunder and strong currents, incidents of flash floods and severe landslides have been reported at many places. So far, the tragic death of at least 3 people has been confirmed due to being hit by debris and swept away by the strong current of water, while many villagers are said to be injured. The horrifying videos of devastation emerging on social media and news channels are narrating the serious situation of the state. The most severe impact of rain is being seen in the sensitive hill districts of Kerala – Wayanad, Idukki, Kottayam and Kozhikode. Heavy landslides occurred during the night in remote areas of Idukki and Wayanad, where lakhs of tonnes of soil and huge boulders suddenly fell from the mountains onto the settlements below. Many residential houses were completely razed to the ground due to this flood of debris. According to the local administration, the dead also included members of a family who were hit by debris while sleeping at night. Relief and rescue teams are facing great difficulty in reaching the affected areas as many link roads and small bridges have been washed away. Local people are risking their lives to remove fallen trees and debris so that the trapped people can be rescued safely. Rivers in spate, vehicles and shops washed away by flash floods Due to incessant rains, major rivers of the state including Periyar, Bharatpuzha and Pamba are flowing well above the danger mark. In many areas, the sudden rise of rivers created a situation like flash flood. In the video which is becoming increasingly viral on social media, it can be seen how the torrent of water is carrying away vehicles parked on the roadside, auto-rickshaws and goods from shops like straw. Towns and villages in low-lying areas have been flooded, causing waterlogging in thousands of houses. Traffic has come to a complete standstill due to waterlogging on many main state highways. Many KSRTC buses and private vehicles are stranded on the roads. In view of the seriousness of the situation, the gates of many major dams have had to be opened in a phased manner, due to which people living in low-lying areas have been instructed to remain alert and move to safe places. NDRF and SDRF teams engaged in relief and rescue work. Seeing the seriousness of the disaster, the State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) immediately called an emergency meeting and issued an alert in the affected districts. Several teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire department and local police have been deployed in the worst-affected areas. In view of the danger of floods and landslides, the administration has evacuated hundreds of families from sensitive areas and shifted them to temporary relief camps. Arrangements for food, clean drinking water and first aid are being made in the camps. District collectors have completely banned unnecessary movement, night driving and trekking in hilly and riverine areas. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alert for the next 24 to 48 hours in many districts of Kerala, warning of extremely heavy rainfall. Due to the cyclonic circulation in the Arabian Sea and strong monsoon winds, the intensity of rain in the coastal and Western Ghats areas is not likely to reduce at present. The Kerala Chief Minister's Office has appealed to citizens to strictly follow government guidelines and not step out of their homes unless absolutely necessary. Fishermen have been given strict instructions not to enter the sea. Holiday has been declared in educational institutions in sensitive districts across the state and helpline numbers have been activated 24×7.
