Kerala: Heavy overnight rainfall overwhelmed vast area of low-lying regions in Thiruvananthapuram capital of Kerala and the district including Pathanamthitta Idukki, Alapuzha and Thrissur on November 23. Pathanamthitta, which was put on red alert on Wednesday, witnessed heavy rain, triggering a heavy rush of water from hilly areas.
The heavy rain caused mud slips, wall collapses, power outages, flooded roads and neighbourhoods, uprooted trees, traffic jams and overflowing canals in several localities, including in Idukki, Alapuzha and Thrissur District also. Schools and colleges shuttered for the day in several parts of the State.
Several residential areas in the low-lying areas of Thiruvananthapuram city were flooded with water after the city recorded heavy overnight rain. Normal life was disrupted in the morning hours on November 23 as several stormwater drains started overflowing.The coastal areas of the capital also faced the brunt of rough seas from Wednesday night. Trees were uprooted at Chempazhanthy and Varkala.
According to the reports Murinjapalam, Cosmo Hospital premises, Kuzhivayal, Kottara, Thekemoode colony area and Gowreesapattom areas were among the worst affected where overflowing water entered houses. People and localies had to navigate through overflowing water at many places to reach offices and schools.
Speaking to TrueToLife on thursday Thiruvananthapuram native Dhiljith D. S confirms that “During heavy rainfall Thiruvananthapuram town has more chance to flood because of the drainage block”.
The flood situation prompted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to hold an online meeting with Revenue Minister K Rajan.
Speaking to media later in Wayanad, Cheif Minister. Pinarayi Vijayan said,” Heavy inflow in the catchment area of two small dams in Idukki and Thiruvananthapuram had forced authorities to open shutters to let some of the flood water out from the affected area”.
Pathanamthitta district received 100 mm of rain within a span of eight hours. He said there was no restriction on pilgrims travelling to Sabarimala. The water level in the Mullaperiyar dam touched 135 feet. However, the measure was well within the safety line threshold and offered no cause for worry, he summed.
He ruled out any reason to panic but asked people living downstream to exercise extreme caution.The government has declared Ponmudi hill station in Thiruvananthapuram off-limits to visitors.The government has opened district and talk-level control rooms in Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur and Idukki districts.The Government declared yellow alert tody in five district include Thiruvananthapuram, Ernamkulam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Wayanad. There is a chance to single rainfall in these districts.
Article by Hima Mohan reporting from kerala for True To Life