Incessant rainfall across several parts of the country has battered normal life with water-logged streets, flooding, traffic congestion and even bigger problems across the country. Over 200 people have lost their lives in the recent monsoon rains in four flood-hit states of Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra, while nine people were killed in landslides in Uttarakhand and Jammu following heavy rains. Rains subsided in many parts of the flood-hit states where over 12,00,000 people have been affected and the water level has started receding in the flood -ravaged areas. The Army, Navy, Coast Guard, NDRF, police, volunteers and fishermen are involved in the rescue operation in various places. Reportedly, 3,000 defence personnel have rescued 35,000 people across 4 flood-hit states
In Kerala, flooding has claimed lives of at least 88 people across 14 districts while 40 went missing, even as rains abated after pounding the state for days. In Karnataka, floods claimed the lives of 48 people in 17 districts while 12 others went missing. In Maharashtra, the death toll increased to 43 and nearly 4,50,000 people were evacuated from flood-hit areas, including 4,04,000 from Kolhapur and Sangli, officials said, adding that 761 villages in 69 taluks have been affected by floods. Several parts of central Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch regions have been receiving heavy rains continuously for three days, claiming at least 40 lives. Meanwhile, heavy showers lashed Uttarakhand and Jammu leaving nine people dead in landslides. Also, five people were killed in West Bengal and Odisha in rain-related incidents.
IMD has issued a red alert for Central states like Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and east Rajasthan, while "orange alert" has been issued for the southern states for the next five days.
Kerala
A year after the devastating deluge, northern Kerala is flooded again as heavy rains and widespread landslides claiming many lives. The death toll in Kerala, the worst affected state in the south, rose to 88 in 14 districts between August 8 and 12. Fifty seven people have been reported missing while 32 people injured are getting medical help. As per reports, so far 265 houses have been fully damaged due to inundation. Over 2,51,000 people have taken shelter in 1,639 relief camps.
The Kerala government issued red alert for four districts: Wayanad, Idukki, Malappuram and Kozhikode. IMD forecast the likelihood of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met with officials of the State Disaster Management Authority at their control room to oversee coordination of relief and rescue operations. Vijayan, who reviewed the situation, said, “The worst-ever landslides occurred in Puthumala near Meppadi in Wayanad. These two regions have been totally cut off,” he said.
The flight operations at the Kochi international airport resumed on Sunday afternoon, two days after it was shut due to inundation of the runway area. Army swung into action for the disaster relief and rescue operations in the flood hit Wayanad in Kerala and Kodagu District in Karnataka. DSC Centre, Kannur has deployed two columns of DSC personnel, one each to Virajpet in Kodagu and Wayanad respectively. One column consists of one Officer, three Junior Commissioned Officers and 55 other ranks, said the spokesperson.
Karnataka
With no signs of respite, Karnataka continued to remain on edge as the death toll due flood-related incidents reached 40. Media reports said 5,82,000 people, till Sunday, were evacuated. Of which 3,27,000 were shifted to to 1,168 relief camps. Looking at the grim situation, Union Minister Amit Shah conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in Belagavi district. He was accompanied by Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. Meanwhile, the IMD has issued a red alert as heavy downpour is expected to hit coastal, central and southern regions of the state in the upcoming 4-5 days. The most affected districts are to be on the coastal side-- Dakshin Kannada and Udupi. Four NDRF teams comprising of 60 personnel have been deployed in the affected areas. Two teams of SDRF of 43 persons, eight columns of Maratha Light Infantry comprising of 400 personal (rescue and engineering task force) have been deployed in the district.
The Chief Minister asked the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada to release Rs 10,000 immediately to each of those families who have lost their houses and whose houses have been partially damaged in the district. All rivers are in spate in Karnataka where the UNESCO world heritage site in Hampi, on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in Ballari district, has been inundated after over 1,70,000 cusec water was released from a reservoir. Tourists in Hampi have been shifted to safer places, officials said. Around eight trains been cancelled in the wake of restoration work being carried out between Shiribagilu (SVGL) and Subrahmanya Road (SBHR) railway stations in the Mysore section.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is grappling floods that have claimed 43 lives in 5 districts of Pune division while 3 are still missing. Nearly 4,74,226 people were evacuated from 584 villages and 596 temporary shelter camps have been set up. Kolhapur and Sangli districts are the worst affected districts. The two districts have been battered by rain in the last few days. Team of 45 with 30 doctors from KEM, Sion & Public Health (medicine, paediatrics, gynaecologists & general) along with Pest Control officers & staff was sent for the flood victims. Teams of the Territorial Army, the Navy and the NDRF conducted rescue operations in Kolhapur and Sangli.
“Five districts in western Maharashtra are affected by floods and 16 people have lost their lives. The administration had shifted a total of 132,000 people to safer places,” said Dileep Mhaisekar, Pune divisional commissioner. Navy teams reached Kolhapur from Goa to aid with air-lifting affected residents to safety.
40 killed in Gujarat
Even as heavy rain abated in Gujarat, the death toll increased to 40 with 14 more deaths reported from Saurashtra region. Nearly 125 people stranded on a road washed away by floods in Gujarat's Kutch district were rescued by the Indian Air Force (IAF). The NDRF teams also rescued 47 students and six teachers from flood-ravaged Morbi district. On Sunday, highest rainfall of 321 mm was recorded Nakhatrana taluka of arid Kutch district. Bodies of five fishermen, who had drowned in the rough sea was on Saturday night, were washed ashore near Rupen port and Okhamadhi near Dwarka. On Sunday too five fishermen had drowned after three boats capsized in rough sea off Porbandar coast and 10 are still missing.
Heavy downpour triggered by a deep depression, which crossed Odisha coast, battered several parts of the state creating a flood-like situation and disrupting train services in some areas in the southern region. At least three wagons of a goods train derailed in Odisha's Ambadola station. Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said six districts have received more than 100 mm of average rainfall since Tuesday, adding that Kandhamal recorded average rainfall of 183.3 mm, while Rayagada got 163.4 mm, Malkangiri 129.3 mm, Koraput 113.9 mm, Kalahandi 109.4 mm and Ganjam received 104.6 mm rainfall.
Heavy rains in Andhra Pradesh resulted in an increase in water levels in major rivers of the state with the threat of flood looming in Vamsadhara river in far-off Srikakulam district. The Met department has issued a warning of "very heavy rainfall" at few places in five districts of Chhattisgarh, including Raipur.
