High alert has been sounded in Chalakudy in Thrissur district as the water level in the Chalakudy River is increasing dangerously. Red alert has been declared in the district for the third consecutive day on August 4 and all educational institutions are given a holiday.
The District Collector has ordered the evacuation of all people and business establishments from areas in Chalakudy, which were affected in 2018 floods with immediate effect. As it will be difficult to evacuate people once the level of water increases to dangerous levels, local body institutions should ensure evacuation from flood-prone areas, Collector Haritha V. Kumar said.
The District Collector has urged the people to cooperate with authorities and move to safer places to avoid casualties. Warning has been given through loudspeakers.
The fourth sluice of the Peringalkuthu dam was opened at 12 noon as water flow from Parambikulam and Thoonakkadavu dams increased. The catchment areas of the reservoirs are experiencing heavy rain.
Authorities have also announced that three shutters of Kerala Sholayar will be opened by 3 p.m. as water flow from Tamil Nadu Sholayar to Kerala Sholayar has increased. This will also add to the water level in Chalakudy river. It is expected that water may reach above the hazardous level in the river by evening.
The other rivers in the district including Manali, Kurumali and Karuvannur too are in spate. All shutters of the Peechi dam are opened at 15cm.
The Thrissur city is also facing severe flooding. In all 37, camps have been opened in the district. As many as 1,533 people from 469 families have been shifted to the camps. More camps may be opened considering the situation at Chalakudy. There is a threat of landslides in high range areas. Traffic has been interrupted in Kuthiran following a mild landslide.
Meanwhile, the body of one of the fishermen who went missing three days back from Chettua was washed onto the beach in Valapad. The deceased has been identified as Manian, 46 of Thiruvananthapuram. He was tested positive for COVID-19 posthumously.
Red alert in Ernakulam
The low-lying areas in Puthenvelikkara, Kunnukara, Chendamangalam panchayats have been placed on high alert following the rising water levels in Chalakudy River.
The district administration has requested the families in these regions to shift to safer locations, including relief camps opened under the North Paravur taluk limit. A team led by Deputy Collector (Disaster Management), Tahsildar, North Paravur, and personnel of the National Disaster Response Force has been deployed to monitor the situation. The Indian Met Department has upgraded the weather alert for Ernakulam district from orange category to red category by 12 noon, indicating widespread heavy to very heavy rains.
The water levels in Chalakudy River started going up after a blue alert was declared in Sholayar dam. The blue alert was issued after the water level reached 2,658ft against the full reservoir level of 2,663ft. An alert has been issued in areas nearby the Chalakudy River after the blue alert was declared, according to an official communication.
Ernakulam witnessed incessant heavy showers from Wednesday midnight and continued till Thursday afternoon. The water level in Muvattupuzha River was above the danger level at 1 p. m. The water level at the river gauge station in Kacherithazham was 11.14m against the danger level of 11.01m. All the 15 shutters in Bhoothathankettu barrage have been kept open. The water level in the Periyar River near to the Marthandavarma, Mangalapuzha and Kalady bridges was also showing a rising trend.
