There is an Heavy rainfall in parts of Kerala which has added on to the misery of the southern states already reeling under a deteriorating flood-like situation. After an incessant rainfall 7 tea estate workers were reported dead in a landslide that occurred in Idukki district’s Rajamala area of Kerala, with more than 80 people expected to be trapped under the soil.
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh each for the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to a landslide in Rajamalai, Idukki
A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed to rescue the landslide victims, with a second one from Thrissur on its way, said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The CM also said that they have contacted the Indian Air Force to carry out rescue operations in Rajamala through helicopters, but airlifting of marooned people is not possible due to the bad weather. A 50-member team of fire and rescue officials has also been dispatched, who are equipped for night-time rescue activities, said the CM. 10 people have already been rescued from the landslide site and are receiving treatment at Tata General Hospital in Munnar. Medical teams from Ernakulam and Kottayam districts deployed to Idukki. Kerala health minister KK Shailaja has said that mobile medical teams and 15 ambulances were sent to Idukki for treatment of those affected in the landslide.
Communication links to the area in Idukki have been affected after the landslide as the power lines snapped in the rains. Twenty houses of the plantation workers have also been destroyed in the landslide.
As the heavy spells continue for the third day in Kerala, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall for Idukki, Malappuram and Wayanad till August 11. Over 2,000 people have been shifted to shelter homes and relief camps following heavy rains and strong winds in Kerala over the past few days. Meanwhile, there are also reports of another landslide en route to Sabarimala hill temple in Pathnamthitta. With the increasing water level of the Periyar river, the famous Shiv temple on the river bank of the Ernakulam district has also submerged.
