Kerala is once again hit by landslides and flash floods, leaving at least nine people dead in three districts in the last 24 hours. Chief Minister VD Satheesan has instructed disaster management officials and district administration to continuously monitor the situation on an hourly basis.
On Monday, the Kerala CM flew to Malappuram's Nilambur and took stock of the situation and rescue and relief efforts. In Nilambur's Pookkottumpadam, six people, part of a tourist group, were swept away in a flash flood in the Kotapuzha river on Sunday.
The rescuers have found five bodies; a woman's body still remains to be found. The group travelled from Wandoor and had ventured in the river to bathe. However, due to heavy rainfall in the upper reaches, the water level rose suddenly, sweeping them.
"This happened at a time when there wasn't even a cloud in the sky, when suddenly water rushed down from upstream of the river," CM Satheesan said.
In another rain-related incident in Kottayam district, a woman from Tamil Nadu died after the scooter she was sitting on was toppled by a landslide at Velathussery near Teekoy. Her friend was seriously injured in the incident.
The deceased was identified as Sangeetha Arun Lal (35), a resident of Chennai.
Two persons died in Idukki district after a mudslide hit a shed they were taking shelter in during rainfall. The incident took place at Kottakkamboor on Sunday and was reported at 3:30 PM.
CM Satheesan said that compensation would be announced for the families of the deceased at the Wednesday Cabinet meeting. Meanwhile, more rain activity is predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as it sounded a yellow alert in eight districts on Monday. The yellow alert has also been issued for Lakshadweep.